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Each week, more of us are becoming eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Soon, nearly 40 percent of us will have at least one vaccine shot. In New York State, nearly 60 percent of nursing home workers and 80 percent of hospital workers have taken their shots. Despite all this good news, we all know someone who is still reluctant to get vaccinated. Read More

Buffalo, NY - Following the retirement of 1199SEIU Executive Vice-President Ruth Heller, on April 1, the area director for Western New York Nursing Homes, Todd Hobler, was appointed by Union President, George Gresham, as Executive Vice-President (EVP) for Upstate/Western New York division. 1199SEIU is the largest healthcare workers union in the country, representing over 350,000 nursing home, homecare, and hospital workers. The Upstate/Western New York Division has nearly 23,000 members with offices in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester and Governor. Read More

Despite the recent success with vaccinations, we know there are still many people who are reluctant to take the shot. A recent poll found 32 percent of the US population may not get the vaccine. And we know to fully protect everyone we need to reach at least 75 to 85 percent of us. We’ve all heard some of the reasons why people are hesitant—the technology is too new, steps must have been skipped, we don’t know the side effects, and others. Read More

Updates for Massachusetts PCAs regarding COVID-19 Read More

Airbnb provided free housing to members across six states during pandemic Read More

I got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine last week. I walked away feeling fine. And grateful. Like all of us, I am missing so many of the important people and things in my life. 1199ers have surely been through hell over the last year. Recently, we were starting to see the light. We could think with genuine hope about returning to our lives. Grandparents could hug their grandchildren. We could spend time with old friends. No more Zoom birthday parties! Read More

We are making incredible progress. Each week, vaccine supplies are increasing and more and more of the population is becoming eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. 1199ers are playing a central role in educating our co-workers and our communities about the vaccines. Vaccination rates are going up and hesitance is going down. Read More

This continuing education offering presents the 2021 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. The participants will learn the latest best and evidence-based practices in diabetes care as per current clinical practice recommendations from ADA. There will be a discussion on the pharmacologic and nutritional approaches with an emphasis on the role of the nurse. There will be a thorough discussion on insulin physiology which will assist the nurse to intelligently monitor and manage acute complications such as hypoglycemia. New glycemic targets will be discussed and the ways to guide the patient in achieving them safely. New trends such as continuous glucose monitoring, new insulins, and delivery system will be included. Read More

This continuing education offering is an introduction to basic dysrhythmia. The participants will review the physiology of the electrical conduction of the heart and the associated mechanical and cellular events. The various dysrhythmias will be categorized according to the site of conduction defects. The participants will learn rules of rhythm analysis and follow a consistent method to ensure accuracy of readings. Read More

This month (March) 23years ago, 1199 greatly increased its reach and power when members voted by an overwhelming margin to affiliate with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and New York Local 144. Some 30,00 Members of Local 144, predominantly nursing home workers, had voted earlier in the year to merge with 1199. Read More

“A special election must be called by the governor for Florida Senate District 37 because it’s so blatantly clear that the November race was corrupted and stolen with dirty political tricks. Voters in South Florida deserve to have their voices honestly heard in a free and fair election, and should be furious about this obvious perversion of democracy.” Read More

CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — Thousands of healthcare workers will call on the governor and state lawmakers to pass real nursing home reform. Read More

Hello 1199 Family. I am very excited to report that last week I received my first vaccination. The process could not have been easier. The staff were fantastic, and I feel fine. I'm thrilled to be part of our increasing vaccination numbers in Upstate/Western New York State. Also, in our region (as across the country) case numbers, hospitalizations, and death tolls are continuing to decline. Read More

New York, NY - 119SEIU President George Gresham has released the following statement regarding recent racially motivated attacks against members of the Asian-American community: Read More

On March 22, 2001, 1199 launched a program to assist union members and their families to obtain citizenship. The program was jointly administered by 1199’s Benefit and Pension Fund and its Training and Upgrading Funds. Read More

1199SEIU President George Gresham released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden’s signing of the American Rescue Plan: Read More

Last week, I received my first vaccination at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. (And I feel great.) 1199ers at Interfaith have been doing incredible work throughout this vaccination effort. Central Brooklyn was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and it was wonderful to see Interfaith caregivers, who have given so much, working to restore the health and wellbeing of thousands of Brooklynites. Interfaith 1199ers and hundreds of thousands of caregivers like them have been playing central roles in vaccine rollout programs that protect our communities. Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, adding a third vaccine to those available in the United States. All three vaccines have been approved by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). An EUA makes the vaccine available for public health emergencies with continued use if people benefit from it. Read More

“Reports that the State Department of Health is planning to dramatically cut health care services in one of the hardest hit areas of New York City are deeply disturbing. Read More

On Friday, February 19th we welcomed nearly 6,000 Personal Assistants (PAs) at Concepts of Independence into the 1199SEIU family -- the largest group to join our Union in the last decade. Read More