National Nurses United

J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 13 managers, we won phenomenal gains in pay, retirement benefits, comprehensive health coverage for nurses and their families, unprece- dented workplace protections, and recognition of their awesome collective strength. We encouraged nurses to extend their patient advocacy from the bedside to the economic, environmental, and political system as a prerequisite for both confronting a trillion-dollar corporate healthcare industry as well as achieving the transformative reforms we need for a more humane healthcare system and society. We took on issues that no union has taken on before in the legislative and social move- ment —and made nurses, and our members in particular, a leading, trusted national voice on healthcare, environmental justice, and on issues as seemingly far removed from the hospital workplace as accountability on Wall Street. Like the Robin Hood Tax! And, we organized a single-payer move- ment in the country, which I had hoped to see end our brutal, profit-focused healthcare system during my tenure, but know that I will see in short order. We created a cohesive board and staff of dedicated, creative, bold drivers that is simply the best, and that functions collec- tively like family. You can trust that they will continue to make this organization even more powerful. I am especially happy that Bonnie Castil- lo, who was a very young RN when I came here, will now succeed me as the executive director. She loves our organizations and will fight to protect it, to protect you. We ended up holding the banner of the most progressive union in the country. No small feat, but one in which all of us can be especially proud. Most importantly, we provided a space where nurses could believe in themselves. We created space for a progressive moment that needed to happen. That had to happen. Thank you for always believing our programs, agendas, and vision, that were far greater than our size, were achievable. That perhaps is the most important thing that I take with me. Because of that, you gave me the courage of my convictions, and your own convictions to dream big, fight hard, and to party as we celebrated these moments in time. I have been at home here, living with the humanistic warriors who are reshaping the paradigm of our country. It's hard to look in the rearview mirror when you are driving at full speed ahead. But I want to thank each and every person who had and has the courage, the passion, and the compassion to change the world. I believe in part that my work has elevat- ed the status of nurses, the contracts of nurses and has in a way that would have seemed unimaginable way back when work- ing nurses were viewed as secondary citizens by the entrenched elite. Not anymore. We opened a door that will not ever close. I fought you hard to get into the fights for a pension when we were younger and not paying attention to those things. I feel very good about that. Retiring with dignity should be a right of all people. As I leave, I am confident that this organi- zation will continue to work not only to protect our members and the life, health, and safety of patients and all our communities, but in the interest, always, of social justice. This has been a remarkable journey. I was in my 30s when I came to your world. And I lived my adult life in your organiza- tion, in "our" organization. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished. That is why I leave and I will continue more deeply into the war that discards the needs of people who are not white and wealthy. We fight. That is why I love it here. That is why I will deeply miss it here. I pray you will move this organization to its fullest potential, which is enormous. That you will continue to have the courage of your convictions even when the terrain seems less than stable. We have to all hold on tight because there are dark forces that hope to destroy labor unions and democracy. But when you are fearful I will be with you always. As I have told the board, I will be on call for life. I could not be prouder than to have spent the majority of my adult life in our organiza- tion. I have tried with every fiber of my being to help you accomplish your leader- ship in a better world. And in spite of all of the years of nonstop pushing, you have all been gracious and loving toward me. That I will forever cherish. RoseAnn DeMoro retired in early March as the long- time executive director of NNU and CNA/NNOC. Most important- ly, we provided a space where nurses could believe in themselves. We created space for a progressive moment that needed to happen. That had to happen.

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