“As we continue to fight the global pandemic that is COVID-19, I want to take a moment to call attention to the scourge of police brutality that has targeted Black and Brown communities for generations. We all saw the footage of George Floyd’s murder. This weekend, we also saw police brutality in New York City, carried out against groups of protestors exercising their constitutional right to assemble.
“We work, but we mourn. The caregivers of 1199SEIU Florida continue to be focused on protecting the public in this historic COVID-19 health crisis, but we do so with especially heavy hearts in this time.”
WHAT: Hospital and nursing home staff, including but not limited to nursing assistants, housekeeping, dietary and food service workers, orderlies, maintenance mechanics and laboratory, pharmacy, clinical, respiratory and surgical technicians, all members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, will hold an informational picket to inform the community about short-staffing and Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home (NLHNH) administration’s refusal to address the problem in contract negotiations.
George Floyd, a Black man was murdered by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day, Monday May 25, 2020 in broad daylight, in front of the community, after a grocery clerk called the police thinking he was writing a bad check. For almost seven minutes, George was pinned to the ground by a white officer named Derek Chauvin who held his knee on his neck, while two other officers held his hands and feet.
This is a surreal moment. I know I don’t have to tell you as caregivers about the ways COVID-19 has inflicted tragedy on our lives. This virus is an invisible enemy, inflicting visible pain on so many, but we are continuing to fight to save the lives that have been entrusted to us for care.
MIAMI----While its members work on the front lines of the Covid-19 public health emergency, the bargaining committee of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East today has rejected layoffs and pay cuts proposed by HCA hospitals across Florida.
WHAT: Frontline nursing home workers at The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation, members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, will hold a silent and solemn vigil, expressing their grief and concern. The nursing home has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths of any of the 362 nursing homes in New York that have reported the virus fatalities. According to the New York State Department of Health, there were 82 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths at Parker Jewish as of May 26.
Who needs to be tested?
All staff who work in nursing homes must be tested, except for people who already tested positive for COVID-19.
We have received numerous calls from members saying that they received a call from “1199” about an additional benefit for which the member must pay. This is a scam. We will never call you requesting money for your benefits. Hang up immediately, block the caller and report this to our Fraud and Abuse hotline.
A car caravan of more than 100 officers and staff from 1199SEIU brought music and celebration to hospital and nursing home workers in recognition of their sacrifice and dedication.