NYC/Long Island

This year, thousands of Delegates from Massachusetts to Florida were sworn in to serve in the position for the next three years. In union-wide elections conducted over March and April, members overwhelmingly elected Pres. Gresham and Sec. Treas. Castaneda to their third terms in office. Members also cast ballots for candidates in the positions of executive vice president, vice president, union wide vice presidents at large, organizer and elected rank and file executive council member.

The oath of office was administered by retired 1199 President Dennis Rivera to 1199SEIUÕs Executive leadership and some 1,400 union delegates from the downstate New York area at a swearing in ceremony held June 9 in New York City. Taking a few moments before conducting two oaths of office Ñ one for officers and one for delegates Ñ Rivera took time to praise the work of 1199Õs leaders and encourage leadership development.

ÒI know this union is in good hands,Ó he said.

In union-wide elections conducted over March and April, members overwhelmingly elected Pres. Gresham and Sec. Treas. Castaneda to their third terms in office. Members also cast ballots for candidates in the positions of executive vice president, vice president, union wide vice presidents at large, organizer and elected rank and file executive council member.

Lionel Williams, a CNA at Eger Nursing Home on Staten Island, was sworn in for his second term as a delegate. He was among the members who organized the nursing home, and feels a responsibility for keeping the union strong.

ÒThis is important not just because weÕre getting sworn in, but we also get to talk to other delegates and take their strength back to our shop,Ó he said. ÒNights like this make us feel really positive.Ó

Mary Stovall-Merill was sworn in as the new 1199SEIU Retirees Division President. Stovall-Merill retired as a clinical laboratory technician from Peninsula Hospital in Queens where she served for 30 years as a delegate.

ÒBeing an 1199er doesnÕt stop when you retire,Ó she says. ÒWe want people to retire and stay active in our union. We want to send the message that you can retire and make the same contribution that you made when you were on the job. Your commitment doesnÕt have to stop just because you stop punching the clock.Ó

This resolution grew out of an October 27 Council meeting in which healthcare workers testified about their concerns over a possible merger between Auburn Hospital and another larger institution from outside the Auburn and Cayuga County area.



At the October 27 meeting, over 50 concerned Auburn Memorial nurses and their community allies braved the snow and took the steps of City Hall to bring light to the potential negative impact that Cayuga County patients may face because of the proposed merger. Workers expressed their disappointment with the merger/affiliation secrecy so far and asked the City Council to support a fair and transparent process.



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ÒThis is just a first step for us,Ó said John Lupien, an Auburn Memorial RN. ÒThe citizens of Auburn and the rest of Cayuga County need Auburn Memorial to remain a full-service community hospital and not just a band aid center or clinic. This is our hospital and we must protect it for our patients.Ó



The nurses at Auburn have also begun to collect signatures on a community-wide petition, to hang ÒSave Our HospitalÓ signs in windows of local businesses, and to reach out to elected officials and community allies. The Cayuga Labor Council passed a resolution to support the workers at Auburn Memorial . Meetings with Auburn Mayor Quill and local state legislators have been encouraging and supportive.

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