NUHW Pulse – September 2018
Welcome to the September 2018 edition of our union’s e-newsletter. In recent weeks, NUHW members have challenged staffing cuts at Providence St. Joseph hospitals, participated in our annual leadership conference, spearheaded a major nursing home law signed by Governor Brown, and released our full endorsement list for the November election. Check out the stories below, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, too.
NUHW holds its sixth annual Leadership Conference
Nearly 400 elected stewards participated in our sixth annual Leadership Conference September 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel. Stewards took training courses and heard from prominent leaders including United Farm Workers Co-Founder Dolores Huerta, and State Senator Kevin de León. Click here to read the story.
Humboldt County caregivers declare staffing crisis, fight layoffs
Providence St. Joseph workers continue to challenge the chain’s profit-driven mentality that has put patients at risk. Less than one month after NUHW members staged their first strike of Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles County, caregivers rallied in Humboldt County to demand better staffing at St. Joseph Eureka and Redwood Memorial hospitals. Click here to read the story.
NUHW helps spearhead nursing home reform
Governor Brown signed legislation this month requiring nursing home owners to provide more information about “insider” companies that may siphon scarce resources away from residents. The law stemmed from an NUHW report showing that in 2015 the state’s largest nursing home company paid $67 million to 65 companies controlled by the same owner. Click here to read the story.
Hawaii Kaiser mental health clinicians vote to join NUHW
After Kaiser unilaterally eliminated five educational leave days, mental health clinicians in Hawaii organized and joined NUHW to stand up for themselves and their patients. Click here to read the story.
NUHW unveils November 2018 candidate endorsements
With our endorsement meetings completed, it’s time to help the candidates who best reflect our values win elected office. Click here to read the story and click here to see our full endorsement list.
NUHW leadership conference explores immigration issues
Immigration took center stage on the final day of our Leadership Conference. Elected NUHW leaders heard from Immigration Judge Ashley Tabaddor followed by a panel discussion that included a recently-detained undocumented immigrant. Click here to read the story.
Kevin de León speaks at Leadership Conference, wins NUHW endorsement
Ninety-one percent of NUHW elected stewards voted to endorse State Senator Kevin de León for U.S. Senate after he addressed our Leadership Conference and reiterated his commitment to worker rights, mental health parity and Healthcare For All. Click here to read the story.
Kaiser professionals fight for better patient care
Over three months and 27 bargaining sessions, Kaiser Permanente has failed to address its caregivers’ patient care concerns, nor has the company responded to its workers’ wage and benefit proposals. Now workers are going public, wearing buttons and stickers to educate patients about the situation. Click here to read the story.
News of the Month
Click here to check out our roundup of the latest labor and healthcare news from top media outlets.