One hundred and thirty Certified Nursing Assistants at Waterview and Salem Hills Rehabilitation Centers in Purdys, NY voted overwhelmingly on May 11 to join 1199SEIU. These homes are owned by Epic Healthcare Management and, with this victory, 1199 represents all four of this employer’s nursing homes in New York State. The CNAs are joining with their union colleagues at Skyview in Croton-on-Hudson and Middletown Park in Middletown.

Thanks to strong support from labor, including 1199 members, Kenyan McDuffie sailed to victory on Tuesday, May 15th in a special election for the Ward 5 council seat for the District of Columbia.

The campaign against the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy is bearing fruit. A host of the city’s elected officials and civic leaders have called for reform or abolition of the practice, including all of those seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor next year.

“For my co-workers, this was a ‘Wow! moment,” said Joan King. “It was like a wonderful light was turned on in our heads.”