My name is Cari Medina and last month, I was honored to be elected and sworn-in as the 1199SEIU executive vice president for Massachusetts. I am the proud daughter of Cuban immigrants and a mother of college-aged twins. 

My journey into the labor movement began nearly 30 years ago. I was working at Boston Medical Center as an administrative assistant when an 1199 admin. organizer (AO) encouraged me to attend a union membership meeting. I quickly found that advocating for fair working conditions was something I was deeply passionate about. Soon after I became a delegate, then a chapter chair, and eventually joined 1199 as an AO. 

In 2020, I became vice president of the Steward area. One of the most pivotal moments of my leadership came when Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy in 2024. 1199ers led a powerful advocacy campaign and were able to save six of the nine hospitals at risk. 

Yet the Steward crisis highlighted the fragility of our current healthcare system — a system that has left workers overworked and underpaid. And with an expected $2-3 billion loss annually for our state due to the passage of the federal budget reconciliation bill, massive layoffs, closures of facilities, and loss of health coverage for hundreds of thousands is a real threat. 

Our collective action is needed NOW to protect our jobs and those we care for. 

Now is the time to unite. Unite to:

• Win strong contracts for 8,000 members in multiple hospitals and health centers currently bargaining,
• Hold elected leaders accountable to investing in healthcare and homecare, and
• Protect our immigrant friends, co-workers, and neighbors from discrimination

Our plan to win starts with: 

• Listening to You  
• Deepening Grassroots Organizing 
• Developing More Member Leaders 
• Investing in 1199 Staff 
• Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration 
• Harnessing our Political Power 

As your EVP, I am committed to leading with integrity, empowering each other, and fighting for the justice and respect every worker deserves. I hope that you will join me as we strengthen our union and improve the lives of working people. 
 

In solidarity, 

Cari Medina