(Buffalo, NY) On June 10-12, 2013, over 7,000 healthcare workers will have the opportunity to cast their ballot to authorize a work stoppage of Kaleida Health facilities. Once a strike vote of the membership is taken, when approved, it allows the union bargaining committee to issue a 10-day advance strike notice.

Hartford,CT –On Thursday, May 30, the National Labor Relations Board Region 1, Sub Region 34, filed a motion to hold Fort Lee, NJ-based HealthBridge and its Senior Vice President for Labor Relations, Lisa Crutchfield, in civil contempt for continuing to violate the District Court’s Section 10 (j) Injunction Order issued on December 11, 2012.

TAUNTON, MA – Healthcare workers at Morton Hospital who are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contract. 1199SEIU members at Morton voted 224 to 8 in favor of the new contract, which includes improvements in wages, health insurance, and employment standards.

(Corning, NY) - Nurses and other staff of Guthrie Corning Hospital plan to picket the
facility on June 6 if no agreement is reached on a new labor contract by that date.

BOSTON, MA – A new advocacy campaign by the state’s largest healthcare union is targeting what caregivers say is a major threat to the quality healthcare services that the public has come to depend on from local community and safety net hospitals.

Florida - Monica Russo, president of SEIU Florida State Council (SEIU Florida) and Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, issued the following statement:

Miami, FL – SEIU Florida State Council (SEIU Florida) will launch an advertising campaign today, targeting legislators in key districts for their lack of support in drawing down an estimated $51 billion set aside by the federal government to expand access to quality healthcare for more than one million hardworking Floridians.

New York City- The First Chinese Presbyterian Church Home Attendant Corporation has stopped paying for healthcare for over 750 homecare workers, which could result in their current benefits being cut off. Caregivers say the agency’s actions will negatively affect the elderly and people with disabilities, because many workers may be forced to seek other jobs or be unable to work if they do not have access to medical treatment for chronic health conditions.

Albany/Troy/Schenectady- 3,277 registered nurses have begun receiving settlement payouts averaging $1,730 related to a class action lawsuit alleging that five area hospitals violated federal antitrust laws by conspiring to suppress nurse wages. 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare union in New York State and the nation, along with the SEIU Nurse Alliance, helped conduct the original research, which laid the foundation for the suit; the SEIU Nurse Alliance also supported the plaintiffs and the litigation throughout the process. The settlement of the lawsuit was significant because studies have shown that the nurse shortage is due in part to wage suppression by employers, and that short-staffing has a negative impact on quality of care.

New York City- The largest healthcare union in New York, 1199SEIU, is calling on the City Council to quickly pass and implement strong legislation that will cover the vast majority of working New Yorkers without paid sick days. Caregivers have become concerned that lobbying by business interests might water down the legislation and weaken the original language that covers employers with five or more workers.

CAMBRIDGE, MA –Last week, caregivers at Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center voted unanimously to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. 1199SEIU is the largest union of healthcare workers in Massachusetts, and also the fastest growing union in the state.  The vote continues a series of organizing victories by healthcare workers seeking to join 1199SEIU, including recent elections at Morton Hospital where over 500 workers voted to join 1199SEIU in October.

BOSTON – El Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU, por sus siglas en inglés) de Massachusetts anunció hoy su respaldo al congresista Ed Markey durante las elecciones al senado.

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced their endorsement of Congressman Ed Markey in the ongoing race for Senate.

BOSTON – The two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate faced off today in a forum (#SEIUforum) in a packed room of more than 500 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from across Massachusetts. Congressmen Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch appeared in the Dorchester offices of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East for a wide-ranging forum that included questions on immigration reform, health care, the federal budget and other issues important to SEIU members.

BOSTON – Members of the Service Employees International Union from across Massachusetts will gather Saturday, March 9, at 10AM in the 1199SEIU Offices for a forum with the candidates for U.S. Senate in the June special election.

Florida - “Today, Governor Scott took a substantial step in the right direction for our state by publically supporting the expansion of Medicaid, as part of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. On behalf of the thousands of caregivers represented by 1199SEIU Florida who work tirelessly every day to deliver quality care, we now call on Senate President Gaetz and House Speaker Weatherford to lead the Legislature to pass a bill that will expand Medicaid expeditiously and without delay, because it will save lives, create jobs and strengthen Florida’s economy..."

Florida - After the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a letter conditionally approving Florida’s Medicaid waiver, Monica Russo, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, issued the following statement:

“The federal government has shown that it can work cooperatively with the State to allow flexibility and innovation when it comes to the future of Medicaid by conditionally approving a waiver that moves almost all Medicaid recipients into managed care..."

BOSTON, MA – Representatives of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the state’s largest healthcare workers union, will testify today at a Department of Public Health hearing against the closure of the detox unit at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital. The union issued the following statement regarding the proposed closure prior to the 2:00 p.m. hearing at 250 Washington Street, 2^nd Floor, Boston. Copies of the union’s official testimony is available by request.

PLYMOUTH, MA – Healthcare workers from Jordan Hospital are taking official action to help ensure a community dialogue regarding the proposed acquisition of their hospital by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).