New Jersey 1199ers Celebration Training Fund “Graduation”

August 3, 2011

A group of proud 1199SEIU members was honored at a New Jersey Delegate Assembly at the union’s headquarters in Iselin in late July. The ceremony celebrated their completion of a variety of training, upgrading or academic courses provided through the 1199 Training Fund.

1199SEIU training funds are among the most successful in the country. Their purpose is to help members earn high school, college and advanced education degrees, and to train them for upgraded skills in a constantly changing work environment.

“The 1199 Training Fund helped me get the education I needed to become an LPN today. It changed my life,” said Linus Nsboth, a licensed practical nurse at AristaCare@Cedar Oaks Nursing Home in South Plainfield. Nsboth, originally from the Republic of Cameroon in Africa, said the training fund helped him get past the financial hurdles that would have otherwise prohibited him from receiving the education he wanted. “I am very grateful for the training fund and want to ensure that other 1199 members have the same opportunity as I did.”

Nsboth is among 4,000 nursing home workers who are currently in contract negotiations in New Jersey. They are fighting to maintain the training fund, and to improve their wages and other benefits.

The honorees who completed classes in ESL, reading, math and LPN certification included these 1199SEIU members from the following nursing homes: Linda Lupkovich (Liberty House), Linus Nsoboti (Aristacare@Cedar Oaks), Francisca Vargas (Castle Hill), Vida Onyinah (Cranford Health), Claudine Delcy (Troy Hills), Martine Attys (Westfield Center), Augustine Dorcely (New Vista), Rose Gilot (Castle Hill), Patricia Renaudo, (Morris Hills), Michelle Sampson (Holly Manor), Laurena Vilaire (New Vista), and Maria Bravo Toledo (Willow Creek)

“Our union is committed to helping our members achieve their goals,” 1199 Executive Vice President Milly Silva told the graduates. “The Training Fund opens doors by helping members return to school, and gives you access the resources and support needed to advance your lives. I congratulate each of you for making the commitment to reach your goals and hopes.”