In April, Our Life And Times invited several 1199SEIU delegates to union headquarters in Manhattan to take part in a discussion about the realities of diversity in their lives on and off the job. Delegates Walter Bosque, Ahmad Green, Cris Rockwell, Mary Ann Rienzo (who joined them via telephone from the Capital Region) and retiree Vicky Owens discussed a broad range of topics from race to age to gender. Following are some of the questions that were posed at the round table and how members responded. 

Q: Based on your own view of diversity, do you consider 1199SEIU to be a diverse union?

A: “We have a lot of stuff going on in this union. We have retirees who are as good as it gets. Just because they move more slowly, their mind isn’t gone. I was taught that older people have a lot to give. I see prejudice against older people.”
VICKY OWENS, RETIREE, FIELDSTON LODGE NH, BRONX, N.Y.

A: “Yes, but I still see a lot of separation by nationality in my workplace. It comes with people’s prejudices. Where people come from should not matter; what you do should not matter. I’ve seen a lot of people getting pushed aside. Me, I’m just looking at another human being.”
MARY ANN RIENZO, HOUSEKEEPER,
AMSTERDAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AMSTERDAM, N.Y.

Q: Should our union be concerned with promoting diversity in society, the workplace and the union? Why?

A: “The union can only get stronger if the concept of our cultural diversity is truly recognized, if we do concrete things to recognize our differences and our similarities. When we identify how we are different we don’t divide ourselves. We can see where conflict can come from. It could be that someone just doesn’t understand or hasn’t chosen the right words. That’s not just important at work. It’s important in our lives and here at the union.”
CRIS ROCKWELL, RN, ST. VINCENT’S MIDTOWN HOSPITAL, MANHATTAN, N.Y.

A: “We all talk about diversity, but it can’t be just about words. It can’t be just talk. It has to be about actions. If I do not fully understand someone, I have to ask what they mean. Getting to know other people should be part of our code, part of work rules. It’s not, and that’s why sometimes we can’t even get people together for a union
meeting.”
AHMAD GREEN, THERAPY ASSISTANT,
FEDERATION OF MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMS, BROOKLYN, N.Y.

A: “Yes. We should incorporate it into the orientation process. When workers come onto the job they should understand we are organizing a cross-section of people. They should understand that we are from different places, but we are one people.”
WALTER BOSQUE, ACUPUNCTURE TECHNICIAN,
CASA PROMESA NURSING HOME, BRONX, N.Y.

Q: Should 1199SEIU be involved with the current campaign for immigration reform?

A: “This issue is very important. If we look at America—this is a country of immigrants. Yet, they are vilifying immigrants. It’s one of the ways they keep our workplaces divided.” WALTER BOSQUE

A: “In numbers there is power, so yes. At my job we talk to people every single day. The more we talk, the more we can get the boss to back down. You need numbers to fight. You can’t go into anything without an army.” MARY ANN RIENZO

A: “Unfortunately there are still people who are against immigration reform in this union. To me, that’s ignorant, not just racist.” CRIS ROCKWELL

Q: How is diversity different from equality?

A: “We need to identify all cultures and look at our similarities and differences. Then we see how we can create coalitions and equality. Racism is really what keeps us divided.” WALTER BOSQUE

A: “The purpose of diversity is for us to get a better understanding of each other; on a more personal level and on the job. Then hopefully it will spill over into everything else. That’s where equality begins.” AHMAD GREEN