Contact: Jeff Hall | 617.281.8384 | jeff.hall@1199.org | Twitter: @1199mass



#NARH Update:

Healthcare workers launch radio ad appealing to Governor and AG to stop the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital.

Caregivers & community schedule 5pm evening vigil/rally while awaiting state intervention on public health crisis in North Adams

NORTH ADAMS, MA – Healthcare workers from North Adams Regional Hospital who are members of 1199SEIU have launched a radio ad (attached) calling on Governor Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley to stop the closure of North Adams Regional Hospital.

Meanwhile, a petition to those elected leaders (www.stoptheclosure.org) promoted in the ad has collected over 3,500 signatures in less than 24 hours.

“The situation is growing more critical by the moment. This is a public health crisis for North County and we are hoping elected leaders will intervene as soon as possible,” said Deb Poplaski, 1199SEIU chapter chair, whose voice is featured in the new radio ad.

Today, community members and healthcare workers will host another public visibility and vigil at 5pm just off hospital grounds outside North Adams Regional Hospital. The vigil is supported by community members, 1199SEIU, the Mass. Nurses Association, and other groups. An additional rally is schedule for 9am Friday morning.

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Nearly 200 employees of North Adams Regional Hospital are members of 1199SEIU, along with nearly 50,000 healthcare workers across Massachusetts.