An 1199 Environmental Services Delegate at the Levindale Hebrew and Geriatric Center on the outskirts of Baltimore, MD describes how he builds community among the membership.

During my six and a half years as a hospital cook, I felt proud knowing that taking time to make a special cake for a resident’s birthday would make them feel more at home. During Passover, the kitchen would receive cream cheese, and I made cheesecake for everyone. We only had individual packages of graham crackers, and I must have opened 50 to make the base, but I was happy to do it to demonstrate that my coworkers and I truly care.

I started working in hospitals because I love to connect with people. I know the same is true for my colleagues in other departments whom I talk to because of my role as an 1199 Delegate. I know that I can cultivate a better relationship between myself and my union siblings, and between the union and management, if we are able to find common ground.

Although I have worked in Environmental Services for three years now, I still organize events like a “Day of Cakes” and Cookie Wars where employees can bring in desserts for a special competition. It is a great way to connect union and non-union workers who might not otherwise meet. I am often able to resolve workers’ issues before they even reach HR because management knows me and understands that being a Delegate does not make me their enemy.

I also try to learn about what my union siblings are experiencing outside of work so I can more effectively fight for them. I am a Hispanic, disabled veteran of the United States Navy, and a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I have always felt like people were looking at me closely, so I can empathize with struggling and feeling out of place. I often help our Spanish-speaking workers with English translation, and vice versa, to bridge those gaps between people and help them, literally or figuratively, to understand each other. I believe sharing is actually caring. My heart is with the patients and the people. When society has given up on some people, I believe we should give each other a helping hand.

One young woman in our bargaining unit was going to be terminated for time and attendance issues. After speaking with her, I discovered the reason she was late: she was homeless. I pushed management to understand that the women’s shelter was 15 miles from work. We negotiated for her to resign and reapply, so she now works “pro re nata,” meaning that she is called in on an as-needed basis. Most importantly, she still has her job, and she was accepted into a Baltimore City program that will help her save and get her own apartment. Once she is housed, we hope she can return as a full-time employee and rejoin 1199.

I have also enjoyed the opportunity to bring healthcare workers’ concerns to our political leaders. Most recently, I joined 1199’s "Down the Rabbit Hole of the Hospital Staffing Crisis” action in Annapolis as the Cheshire Cat, advocating for a bill that will create safe staffing committees in each Maryland hospital. When I join political actions, I always invite people to come with me so they can learn more about what 1199 is about.

There was an EVS supervisor position open at another local hospital, but I turned it down because I didn’t want to be in a non-union position. For a lot of people, the union is about power, and that is an important aspect of our mission. But for me, it is about the opportunity to lend a hand. I have never been in such a position to help people the way I can now, and so I try to do my very best.