Western New York home care workers and families hosted a roundtable discussion with Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) to share the challenges facing those caring for seniors and people with disabilities. Together they are pushing for robust federal investments in America’s care economy. Read More
Who:
Congressman Brian Higgins
Peter De Jesus Jr, President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation
Robert Weintraub, a local resident who relies on home care for his family
Linda Wilson, a local home care worker & member of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers Read More
As a South Florida nursing home worker and a proud union member, it’s hard for me to believe this Labor Day that we’re still struggling so desperately with the COVID-19 pandemic. For almost two full years now, we’ve been on the front lines of this health crisis that is surging again and has claimed the lives of more than 44,000 Floridians. Read More
HOLLYWOOD, FL----To help protect the community against the COVID-19 virus, the ‘healthcare heroes’ of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East teamed with Broward County officials and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church for a free vaccination event that was held on Wednesday, September 1. Coordinated by 1199SEIU caregivers and Broward County Mayor Steven Geller, the vaccine was administered by Broward County Health Department staff. The event targeted Hollywood-area residents but it was also open to anyone.
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On Aug. 23 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had granted full approval of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for people 16 years and older. The drug will be marketed under the name Comirnaty, the FDA said in its announcement. Of the more than 170 million people in the U.S. vaccinated against COVID-19, 92 million have received the Pfizer vaccine. Read More
Micki Grant, who died on Aug. 21 at age 92, was the first woman to write the book, music and lyrics of a Broadway musical, “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope.” She was also the first women to win a Grammy for a Broadway score. In 1972, Grant won New York Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critic Circle awards. Read More
From the start of the pandemic early last year, we and other health-care workers across the state sacrificed our health — and risked our lives — to care for nearly 2.25 million New Yorkers who contracted COVID-19 statewide and to tend to the more than 53,000 who died. More than 1 million of those cases were in New York City, which logged nearly 38,000 deaths. Read More
ROCHESTER, NY — Home care workers and consumers will rally in support of President Biden’s Home Care Proposal, calling on Congress to sign on to the Better Care Better Jobs Act to expand access to urgently-needed care services and create good living-wage and union jobs for care workers. Care workers will hold a press conference and banner drop calling on Congress to "Respect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us!" Read More
While President Biden's “soft infrastructure bills” are one of the most critical issues being
debated in Washington, DC this summer, on Wednesday in Albany, New York, 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers in the country, hosted a virtual round table discussion on The Better Care, Better Jobs Act. The conversation focused on the provisions of the Act that would invest funds in the homecare industry by: Read More
The delta variant is creating a surge of new COVID-19 cases across the country, particularly in states and regions where fewer people are vaccinated. The variant now accounts for over 82 percent of all new cases. Read More
Negotiations for a new union contract covering more than 2,000 service workers represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East and SEIU Local 200United at Strong Memorial Hospital and University of Rochester began today. The current collective bargaining agreement between the unions and the hospital is set to expire September 11. Read More
“1199SEIU mourns the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. We send our deepest condolences to his loved ones. President Trumka was a third generation mine worker who dedicated his life to the labor movement. We honor him and his lifelong fight for dignity and respect for all working people. Read More
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people vaccinated against the coronavirus resume wearing masks in schools and in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging. Read More
New York, NY – 1199SEIU President George Gresham today released the following statement: Read More
One week after New York City’s ticker-tape parade to show appreciation for front-line workers, home care workers rallied in front of City Hall for better wages to reflect the sacrifices they say they make every day. They were calling on Congress to pass the Better Care, Better Jobs Act and to remind everyone that home care is essential. The bill would invest funds into the home care industry, prioritizing wage and benefit increases for caregivers.
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In 1967, 1199 produced a celebrated film that movingly dramatized the plight of service workers and the vast improvements that came with unionization. Read More
When 1199 won a major New York League contract victory in June 1998, workers understood that they had been emboldened by their increased strength. A key reason for that strength was the recent merger with Local 144. Read More
Contract campaigns against the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Nursing Homes mark major milestones in 1199’s history. After the Union won its historic hospital
organizing victories in 1959, it devoted most of the 1960s to winning full bargaining rights in New York State for some of the poorest workers in the world’s
richest city. Read More
