MIAMI – 1199SEIU nurse members from UHealth Tower represented their union and joined a large contingent of SEIU members in Florida as well as thousands of people across the country in a national day of action on July 26 as part of a sweeping public mobilization to say: our families come first—not billionaires. In every state, workers, parents, immigrants, and patients rallied together to expose the devastating impact of the “Big Ugly Bill”—a $4.5 trillion transfer of resources away from working families and toward corporate greed.

Pushed by the Trump administration and passed by GOP members of the U.S. House and Senate, the law slashes Medicaid, SNAP, childcare, higher education, FEMA, and climate protections while pouring billions into expanding resources for ICE raids, handing billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and other policies to endanger families and communities.

The July 26 rally in Miami was held in the city’s health district at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Alamo. The speaking program included SEIU labor leaders, nurses, doctors, CNAs, community leaders and topic experts who know what damage this legislation will inflict on Floridians who will lose their health care and insurance, food assistance, jobs and more.

Representing 1199SEIU as a featured speaker at the event was Martha Wydra, a Registered Nurse at UHealth Tower who holds doctoral and master’s degrees in critical care.

“So many hard-working, law-abiding people young and old are going to suffer terribly,” she told the large South Florida crowd. “And for what, so a handful of billionaires can grab an even bigger share of everything? This bill is truly ugly for America.”

Union member Virginia Kondas served 12 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, said the deep healthcare cuts that will especially hurt children, seniors, and even veterans are very sad for a nation that can afford to properly protect its people. She is currently an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at UHealth Tower and earned a master’s degree in adult gerontological and acute care.

“This is very disturbing as a nurse caring for patients today and as a military veteran who faithfully served her country. The current government is snatching essential resources to fund frightening and violent ICE raids and gift even greater tax breaks to the richest of the rich. We all need to stand up, speak up and fight for what’s right.”