Buffalo Young Workers Program Launches Voter Registration Campaign
May. 08, 2008
1199SEIU’s Young Workers Program in western New York will begin voter registration campaign in Buffalo beginning Saturday, May 10. The citywide voter registration effort, in collaboration with the Barack Obama presidential campaign, will target young people in low-income areas, and local community centers.
Thousands March on Kingsbridge Nursing Home to Demand Fair Contract, Benefits
May. 05, 2008
Several thousand 1199SEIU members marched through the narrow Bronx streets approaching the Kingsbridge Heights nursing home on May 3, to demand a fair contract with health benefits for their Union sisters and brothers who are in the third month of a strike.
Dennis Rivera Named Grand Marshall Of 2008 Puerto Rican Day Parade
May. 02, 2008
SEIU Chair Dennis Rivera has been named Grand Marshall of this year’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade, the first time a labor leader has been so honored since the Parade began in 1957. The parade up 5th Avenue in Manhattan will be on Sunday, June 8th. Rivera, until last year the President of 1199SEIU, will be accompanied by an 1199SEIU float and a contingent of 1,000 Union members.
Western New York Nursing Home Workers Rally For New Contract
May. 02, 2008
1199SEIU nursing home workers rallied in Buffalo on May 1 to call attention to their fight for new contracts at 21 homes throughout western New York. The contracts of over 3,500 1199SEIU members, expired on April 30. Negotiations with employers are ongoing, but no agreements have been reached.
May Day 2008: West Coast Longshore Workers Shut Down Ports To Protest Iraq War
May. 02, 2008
On May 1, more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 west coast ports dramatically celebrated May Day. They took the day off, closed down the ports, and called for an end to the war in Iraq. Throughout the world, May Day is considered International Workers' Day, commemorating the social and economic achievements of the labor movement. The tradition of a May Day strike originated in Chicago in the 1880s, growing out of the demand by workers for the eight-hour work day.
1199SEIU Members at Crouse Hospital Ratify New Three-Year Contract
May. 01, 2008
Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse today. “We are especially proud of expanding the sliding scale discount for family health insurance,” said Nancy Hallock, RN and 1199 Negotiating Committee member. “As healthcare workers, we are extra sensitive to the importance of making health insurance affordable for all workers and their families.
Workers Raise Standards Again Raised At Capital Region Nursing Home
Apr. 30, 2008
1199SEIU members at Glendale Nursing Home, a county-operated facility in Scotia, NY outside of Schenectady, now have a contract. After several months of fruitless negotiations, once management decided to get serious, the members were able to negotiate a contract in only four sessions.
Stan Funches used to visit his aunt at Kingsbridge Heights Nursing Home almost every day. Now, he takes time from his schedule and visits several times a day if he can. He is the only family member she has left. Funches says that when he knew he was leaving her in the hands of 1199SEIU caregivers he had peace of mind. Today, those workers have been on strike for more than 10 weeks, so Stan steps in as much as possible to help out.
NYS Budget Restores $245 Billion in Proposed Healthcare Cuts
Apr. 28, 2008
In a tremendous victory for 1199SEIU and our employer partner, the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), Governor David Paterson and the NYS Legislature agreed on a budget that restores $245 million in healthcare cuts proposed by former Governor Eliot Spitzer.
