A JOURNAL OF 1199SEIUSpring 2013

WE’VE GOT OURMARCHINGSHOES ON

Nicole Darling has been a dietaryaide at Absolut of Houghton in

Houghton, NY for 10 years.“I really like the residents,”

she says. “Some of them I knowfrom my town or other townsaround here. They know my

parents or my grandparents.”See story on page 8.

And we’re makingour voices heard

Our Life And Times, Spring 2013, Vol 31, No 2 Published by1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East310 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036Telephone (212) 582-1890www.1199seiu.org

PRESIDENT:George GreshamSECRETARY TREASURER:Maria Castaneda

EXECUTIVE VICEPRESIDENTS:Norma Amsterdam Yvonne Armstrong Lisa BrownAngela Doyle George KennedySteve Kramer Patrick Lindsay Joyce NeilJohn Reid Bruce Richard Mike Rifkin Monica RussoRona Shapiro (acting)Neva ShillingfordMilly SilvaVeronica TurnerLaurie ValloneEstela Vazquez

ACTING EDITOR:Patricia KenneyDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:Jim TynanPHOTOGRAPHER:Belinda GallegosART DIRECTION & DESIGN:Maiarelli StudioCOVER PHOTOGRAPH:Jim TynanCONTRIBUTORS:Kim DiehlMike GivensJJ JohnsonBryn Lloyd-Bollard

Our Life And Times ispublished 5 times a year:Dec/Jan, Feb/Mar, Spring,Summer, and Fall by1199SEIU,310 West 43rd St., New York,NY 10036. Subscriptions $15per year. Periodicals postagepaid at New York, NY andadditional mailing offices. ISSN 1080-3089. USPS 000-392. Postmaster: Send addresschanges to Our Life And Times,310 West 43rd St., New York, NY 10036.

3 WE’VE GOT OUR MARCHING SHOES ON 1199SEIU members are in the streets and the halls of government fighting for working people’s interests.

4 PRESIDENT’S COLUMNWe Are the Union.

5 FLORIDA LOBBY DAY Members flood Tallahassee and tell legislators to have heart, brains and courage.

6 IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW Hundreds of 1199ers headed to Washington, D.C. on April 10 for a national day of action.

8 THE WORK WE DO Absolut of Houghton in Houghton, NY.

10 OUR BOSTON HEROES 1199ers were on the front lines caring for victims of the Marathon Day tragedy.

11 THE WISDOM OF EXPERIENCE Part II of our feature about the special insights of long-time delegates.

14 ONE WHO PAVED THE WAY Retiree Lawrence Silber joined1199 in1953.

15 AROUND THE UNION NYC members against gun violence; NJ endorses Barbara Buono for Governor; 1199SEIU supports paid sick day law in NYC.

Contents

p.8 p.14p.10

www.1199seiu.org

p.11

Millicent Peterkin, Grace Plaza Nursing Homeand Rehabilitation Center,Great Neck, NY.

3 Spring • Our Life And Times

Members of1199SEIUhave well-wornmarchingshoes.We’ve

been wearing them since ourUnion’s founding in 1932. Thisissue of Our Life And Times isabout some of the reasons we stillhave them on. And why todaythey’re still laced up tight andready to go.

While we have undoubtedlymade progress on the road wehave traveled, it’s ultimately thesame road. We still march andrally in our streets and at ourstatehouses and city halls for ourunion rights, quality healthcare,fair wages, good schools, safeneighborhoods, peace andequality. We’re working to helpour children keep the things ourgrandparents won.

At a rally in Harlem inNew York City onMarch 21 hundreds of1199ers turned out to

support New York State’s SAFEAct and against the gun violenceplaguing our nation. SherrilChristian, a linen departmentworker at Beth Israel MedicalCenter in Manhattan, attendedwith her co-workers.

“A lot of times people don’tunderstand an issue until it hitshome for them — until it happensto them,” said Christian. “But wecan’t afford to stand back and let itget to that for people. It’s not whatwe want or what we are about.”

1199SEIU members are neverafraid to speak the truth to thosein power; we know there are moreof us than there are of them.On March 6, hundreds of Floridaregion members floodedTallahassee and challengedlawmakers to accept funding that

would expand Medicaid to covermore than one million uninsuredFloridians. Among them wasveteran activist and delegate PearlGooden, a CNA at AccentiaHealth and Rehabilitation Centerin Tampa.

“It’s a crime if they don’taccept that money from the federalgovernment when our tax dollarspay for them to have healthcare,”said Gooden. “I’m calling thequestion: we take care of you, butwill you take care of us?”

It’s practically in the DNA of1199SEIU members tostand up for the poor,disenfranchised andvoiceless and refuse to

remain silent in the face ofinjustice. We do it best in bignumbers, with unity and by beingunafraid to raise our voices.

“I have always been like that,even before I was a delegate,” saysRichard Colon, a patient access repII at Boston Medical Center whohas served as delegate for 16 of his18 years at the institution. “Justthe way I am they picked me outand asked me if I wanted to helporganize. I just like seeing peopletreated fairly.”

Wanting to see peopletreated fairly. Nomatter who they are.No matter what.

That’s the driving force for the1199SEIU members on thesepages, their sisters and brothers inour shops and those who turn outto march in the streets, walk on thepicket lines and stand vigilantlybehind the police barriers. And it’sthe reason we’ll keep lacing up ourmarching shoes.

EDITORIAL

KEEPING OURMARCHING BOOTS ONOn the streets or in the halls of government, 1199ers are on the move and making our voices heard.

MA region membersrallied for immigrationreform at Boston’sFaneuil Hall on April 6.

It’s practicallyin the DNA of1199SEIUmembers to standup for the poor,disenfranchisedand voiceless andrefuse to remainsilent in the faceof injustice.

ROSE LINCOLN PHOTO

Spring • Our Life And Times 4

LEADERS IN TRAINING

Ihave been an LIT (LeadersIn Training) Programgraduate for three yearsand during this time I have

used the skills learned in LIT inmy workplace, communitygroup, and even speaking tomanagers in our labor-management meetings. Thereare many parts of the LITexperience. The first was thehistory of the labor movement.This was something I coulddeeply relate to being a BlackAmerican. The history of laborand the struggles of BlackAmericans have made us allies inthe same war for equality,respect and the right to be a partof the great Americanexperience We help build.

Another important class inLIT is the popular educationskills course; it helped me focuson the skills of critical thinking.As a delegate, you’re called uponto help negotiate contracts, jobdescriptions and representmembers in disputes in theirworkplace. The skills that youlearn of listening andquestioning the question areinvaluable during these events.

The design course waswhere we put all the skills welearned together by having usput together a 30-minuteeducation section to other LITclasses or to our workplaces.Three other LIT grads and I puttogether a half-day class forpersonal care assistants with oureducator Tim Dean during thispast election. We also createdone about where we go fromhere as a union. It was abeginning of what I hope will bemany workshops I willparticipate in with othermembers as we grow as a unionduring these challenging times.

Ultimately, the LIT coursewill bring out the best in whatyou want to do, if you want to bean organizer you will find thetools, if political action is yourpassion, you will find like-minded people to join with, if it’seducation the resources areendless.

KARL ODOMCarney HospitalDorchester, MA

IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW!

Ifound your story about ourCitizenship Program cele-bration very touching. Iwent through the 1199SEIU

Citizenship Program and becamea citizen in March 2012 aftercoming to the U.S. from Ghanain 1980. I came here alone andundocumented. I was seeking op-portunities for a better life. I havebeen through all of the things un-documented immigrants gothrough and I pity people whoare going through them now.When you are undocumentedyou are always hiding and worry-ing about going to public places.I know what it’s like to be hiding.Now that I am a citizen I am freeto enjoy all the benefits and privi-leges that citizenship brings, likevoting and travel. I want to seeothers treated fairly. People justwant to earn a living. They want abetter life. They pay their taxes.I hope this happens soon. I feelvery, very lucky to be out in thesunlight. Others should be ableto come out too.

CECELIA ADURetiree, Bronx, NY

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

Iam writing to express mygratitude for the Union’spublication. I loved the onefeaturing my fellow

delegates. It was inspiring to hearwhat they had to say aboutparticipating in our union. Welive and work in rural upstateNew York, and don’t often feellike a part of the bigger union.This magazine helps us see thewhole picture of what our unionis accomplishing. Keep up thegood work.

MARY HINCKLEYAbsolut of Houghton,Houghton, NY

Let’s Hear From YouOur Life And Times welcomesyour letters. Please email them toPatriciaK@1199.org or snail mailthem to Patricia Kenney,1199SEIU OLAT, 330 West 42ndSt., 7th floor, New York, NY10036. Please include yourtelephone number and place ofwork. Letters may be edited forbrevity and clarity.

When folks talk about the union, what do they mean? I know thatmost outsiders—politicians, the news media, many of our partner organi-zations—and even some of our members think of the union as our officers,our organizers and staff, and our headquarters buildings.

But they are mistaken to think so. At least for 1199SEIU, our Union isour members. It’s as simple as that. There could be no Union staff, officersor headquarters without our members.

To the rest of the world, especially the political world, our union maysometimes be thought of as a powerhouse. But we are strong only to theextent that our members are strong. When thousands of 1199ers volunteerto work in election campaigns or get on buses to lobby in Washington orour state capitals, we demonstrate the strength of our Union.

The central core of our Union’s work, of course, is in our institutions.We negotiate collective bargaining agreements with over 1,000 hospitals,nursing homes, home care agencies and other employers. Thenit is up to our members and our Delegates, helped by our Organizers, toenforce the contracts—to make sure that our employers are living up tothe agreements on everything from hours and pay to safe staffing to over-time to use of temp workers.

Many members are under the mistaken impression that the unionis a kind of insurance company—you pay your dues and in return you gethealthcare and pension benefits. In fact, the benefits members enjoy arepart of what we’ve achieved in our collective bargaining agreements. Butnothing is given to us and there are no guarantees of forever. Whateverwe’ve gotten is because we fought for it. If we’re not strong enough tofight, we can lose what we’ve gained.

As in the political arena, our Union is only as strong as our members.In our institutions, this means that we are only as strong as our chapters.And, speaking frankly, our chapter strength is uneven. Some of our chap-ters are solid and tough—and the employers know it. Others are morefragile—and the employers know that also.

We are now launching a Union-wide campaign to strengthen our chap-ters. We call it chapter-building but it is really chapter-strengthening. Weofficers whom you have elected have, to be perfectly honest with you, beensomewhat lax in this regard. The many issues and problems and challengeswe face every day are time consuming, and we haven’t always paid the at-tention to our chapters that they deserve. But that inattention ends now.

Happily, we have recruited a brilliant new 1199SEIU Director ofLeadership Development, who is already beginning to build a strong edu-cation department to give our Delegates and Organizers the tools theyneed to best represent and fight for our members. But the willingness tofight has to start with you, our members. This begins with active memberparticipation—attending department and chapter meetings, educating ourselves about the issues confronting us.

You have just elected your Delegates, who will represent youbefore your employer. But we still have many other Delegate slots thatneed filling. If you know of someone in your department who would makea good Delegate—it might even be you—please let the other Delegatesand your Organizer know.

There will always be room for members who want to be active—if notas Delegates, then as political activists or members of our various commit-tees (e.g., Jobs, Safety and Health, Child Care, etc.).

We know how hard you work—some of you at more than one job—inaddition to your family and community responsibilities. And many of youtake classes to upgrade your job skills or improve your economicprospects. So not everyone is in a position to be a Union activist.

But every member has the ability to let their Delegates know that theysupport the Union and are ready to show it if it becomes necessary. This iswhat has built the strength that our Union has had for so many years. Andthis is what we’ll need to meet the difficult challenges ahead. Join me tomake our Union stronger!

THE PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Letters

We Are The UnionBuilding our strength means fortifying our chapters and their members.

George Gresham

New delegates sworn in at a NYC assembly in Oct. 2011.

5 Spring • Our Life And Times

Florida DelegatesSound the AlarmHundreds travel to Tallahassee and urgelawmakers to support Medicaid expansion.

“MY SON AND THEHOPE THAT ONEDAY LEGISLATORSWILL DO WHAT’SRIGHT ANDEXPANDMEDICAID AREWHAT KEEP MEGOING.”

— TIFFANY TURPIN,restorative aide,South Tampa Healthand RehabilitationCenter

FLORIDA

Hundreds ofmembers of1199SEIU floodedFlorida’s capitol inTallahassee March6 for a massiveday of action to

demand legislators support theexpansion of Medicaid to more thana million uninsured Floridians.

Throughout a day of almost100 lobby visits, members alsoheld a press conference and flashmob-style sing-along, duringwhich hundreds of caregivers’voices echoed through the halls ofthe Capitol in the refrain “Come onand save some lives, save somelives tomorrow, Come on and savesome lives, save some livestomorrow, Won’t you take themoney, it will make us strong,Come on and save some lives, savesome lives tomorrow.”

Workers were joined by the TinMan, Lion and Scarecrow, who alldemanded lawmakers use theirbrains, courage and hearts toexpand Medicaid to 1.2 millionhardworking Floridians. Delegatesrepeatedly told their legislators

that accepting the $27 billion infederal funding is the right thing todo and a decision againstexpansion would place politicalideology over saving lives andcreating jobs.

Pearl Gooden, a CNA atAccentia Health and RehabilitationCenter in Tampa, came to theLobby Day ready to challengelawmakers.

“It’s a crime if they don’t acceptthat money from the federalgovernment when our tax dollarspay for them to have healthcare,”said Gooden. “I’m calling thequestion: ‘We take care of you, butwill you take care of us?’”

Many Florida legislatorsoppose accepting theMedicaid expansionplan - a key part of the

Affordable Care Act - that wouldpay all costs for Florida to expandtheir Medicaid rolls by up to amillion people for three years.After that Florida will receivefederal matching funds of 90 centsfor every dollar the statecontributes.

The day of action took placejust two weeks after Florida’sGovernor, Rick Scott, a vehementopponent of the Affordable CareAct, reversed himself and made asurprising declaration that hewould accept federal funding toexpand Medicaid if a bill werepassed. However, in HouseSpeaker Will Weatherford’sopening speech, Weatherfordexpressed outright opposition toexpanding Medicaid, despitehaving his brother’s medical carepaid for by the Medically NeedyProgram, which was funded withMedicaid dollars.

For Tiffany Turpin, arestorative aide atSouth Tampa Healthand RehabilitationCenter, the Lobby Daywas personal. Turpin

was recently diagnosed with lupusand cannot afford her employer’smedical plan. She gets by withprednisone and the occasional visitto a local clinic.

“If I could get health insuranceand see a rheumatologist Iwouldn’t have to be on pred - nisone. There is actual medicine totreat lupus, but I don’t have themeans. Rheumatologists arevery expensive if you don’t havehealth insurance,” she explained.“My son and the hope that oneday legislators will do what’sright and expand Medicaid arewhat keep me going. I have tokeep getting up. I have to keepgoing.”

You can watch a videoand listen to the song on the1199SEIU Florida Facebook page atwww.Facebook.com/1199SEIUFlorida.

Hundreds of Floridaregion 1199ers floodedTallahassee March 6urging lawmakers toaccept critical Medicaidexpansion funding thatwould create jobs andsave lives.

6Spring • Our Life And Times

IMMIGRATION

A group of 400 members of 1199SEIU traveledto Washington, DC April 10 and joined thousandsof people who came from across the country to rallyin support of reforming the nation’s brokenimmigration system. In vast numbers and in aunified voice that could be heard throughoutdowntown DC, they told lawmakers to passbi-partisan legislation that would provide a pathto citizenship for 11 million new Americans and putin place new processes for some of the currentsystem's draconian practices.

“Si se puede,” the crowd chanted and “Obama,escucha estamos en la lucha.” (Obama, listen we arein struggle). They carried signs demanding an endto deportations and calling on elected officials tostop playing politics with people’s lives. Artistsmarched with giant puppets of Uncle Sam andentire contingents came in traditional dress fromtheir home countries.

“It’s very exciting to be here. I’m originally fromSierra Leone and I came here as a student. I decidedto stay and became a citizen, but so many peopleare hiding. They get paid low wages. It’s good forus to be here so everyone can have equal rights,”said Alima Cole, an LPN at Regency Heritage CareCenter in Somerset, NJ.

Members from the Union’s New York City,

Capital Region, Maryland/DC and New Jerseyregions made the trip and joined an ebullient crowdthat cascaded like a rainbow down the Capitolsteps. In what seemed a perfect metaphor for theday, many sought shelter from the unseasonablystrong sun beneath their American flags. The rallyturned the National Mall into a virtual UnitedNations; there were flags from every corner of theglobe, with every kind of family, person and workerrepresented in some way.

Speakers included celebrities, artists, electedofficials and representatives from the labormovement including Service EmployeesInternational Union president Mary Kay Henry, andHector Figueroa, president of 1199SEIU's sisterunion, Local 32-BJ. Ben Jealous, president of theNAACP, was the day's keynote speaker.

1199SEIU and its members have been activeleaders in the struggle for immigration reform.Around the regions, members, their supporters andnumerous coalition partners participated in severalevents leading up to the April 10 rally inWashington, DC: Massachusetts region membersrallied at Boston’s Faneuil Hall on April 8 in supportof immigration reform. In New York City on March 211199SEIU members joined others from New Yorkers

for Real Immigration Reform in an all-day vigil atJudson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village tocall on elected officials to pass immigration reformlegislation that keeps families together andprovides a real path to citizenship. The event alsohighlighted how the current system tears familiesapart; changing that injustice was a primarymotivator for many who attended the April 10 rally.

“I wasn't able to see my mother for 20 years.I was a baby when she came here from Haiti,” saidSanky Miracle, a CNA at Meridian Rehab inShrewsbury, NJ. “She came here undocumentedand then she brought me. My grandmother raisedme, but I missed my mother's presence. Whenfamilies are separated it isn't a good thing. Theyneed to be together. When mothers and fathersaren't there, it's a piece missing from your life.”

Cliff Barker, an LPN at the Ryan Health Centeron Manhattan's Upper West Side, came away fromthe day feeling positive and motivated to do more.

“I believe it's important for me to be here.People work hard and they should be offered theprivilege of citizenship,” said Barker. “My fathercame here as an immigrant from Guyana andworked for his citizenship. And I got mine becauseof him. Others should have the chance too.”

NOWNo more waiting to fix our brokenimmigration system, say members.

“When familiesare separated itisn't a good thing.They need to betogether.”

New Jersey region members (from left)Jeffrey Jimenez, a CNA at Woodcrest CareOne and Ezekiel Glemaud, a CNA at WayneAtrium and Preakness Health. They werejoined by Iesha Jones, who came with hermother Alice Nicholson, a worker fromConcord NH in Lakewood, NJ.

THE TIME IS

– Sanky MiracleCNA at Meridian Rehab,Shrewsbury, NJ.

7 Spring • Our Life And Times

April 10 National Day ofAction for immigrationreform included ralliesin White Plains, NY(above) and massiveWashington, DCmobilization (at leftand below).

MassachusettsSen. ElizabethWarren talks with1199SEIU membersat April 6immigration reformaction in Boston.

DAVE SANDERS PHOTO

ROSE LINCOLN PHOTO

8Spring • Our Life And Times

Absolut Care of Houghton is located in thevillage of Houghton, NY, about a 90-minutedrive south of Rochester. It’s a small facility ina small community, but the 1199SEIUmembers at the institution care for patientswith a broad spectrum of needs – from short-term stays for rehabilitation to long-termresidents with Alzheimer’s and dementia.Houghton’s location makes possible a specialfamiliarity between the workers and theirpatients. “I really like the residents andtaking care of them,” says dietary aide NicoleDarling. “Some of them I know from my townor other towns around here. They know myparents or my grandparents.”

Absolut Care of Houghton

THE WORK WE DO:

2

1

6

4

9 Spring • Our Life And Times

THE WORK WE DO

“When you workwith residentsregularly youcan find out whatthey like and don’tlike and you canhelp them.”

— Absolut Care of Houghton CNACrystal Mason

7

5

3

1. Laundry worker CarolThompson takes care of thelinens for 100 Absolut Houghtonresidents daily.

2. Ana Mejia, a CNA at AbsolutCare of Houghton, moves on toher next patient. Mejia and herco-workers care for patients witha variety of conditions — fromshort-term rehab cases to long-term residents with dementia.

3. CNA Christina Washburn

4. CNA Crystal Mason works withpatients with Alzheimer’s diseaseand dementia. “When you workwith residents regularly you findout what they like and don’t likeand you can help them, whetherit’s music or a particular TV show,”says Mason at Absolut Houghtonfor seven years. “If you’re movingbetween floors you can’t makesure they get those things.”

5. Matthew Williams, dietaryaide at Absolut Houghton sinceFeb. 6. “I was out of work forquite a while when I startedhere,” says Williams, who’sengaged to the mother of his one-year-old daughter. “I loved thefeeling of finally having apaycheck coming in.”

6. CNA Wanda Bucholz

7. CNA Brezi Brown

10Spring • Our Life And Times

On Monday, April 15, in the wake of the tragicevents that unfolded at the finish line of the BostonMarathon, 1199SEIU members, fellow frontlineresponders, and others jumped into action to providecare and comfort to victims of the tragedy.

Boston Medical Center (BMC), minutes awayfrom the site of the explosions, received several ofthe casualties that day. Frontline healthcare workersat the hospital, including many 1199SEIU members,answered the call of duty to save lives and provideexceptional care.

“It was crazy there for a good while. It was a

traumatic atmosphere. We saw double amputees,people with shrapnel. It was horrific,” said BrianJohnson, an anesthesia technician at BMC.

Johnson said that what he saw was verytraumatic, even in the context of a hospital that seesa major percentage of Boston’s most severe traumacases. Brian said that in the face of tragedy, BMCstaff have risen to the occasion — and havedepended on each other to persevere and continuedelivering exceptional care in the aftermath of theterrible events of April 15.

“It was good to see everyone working together

in harmony. That really mattered a lot to me,”Johnson said.

Brenda Voight, an Emergency Room RN at BMC,echoed Johnson sentiment about April 15.

“Everybody pitched in, from transport toregistration to interpreters, dietary, secretaries. It wasan incredible, incredible group effort,” said Voight.“Other nurses and doctors from other parts of thehospital came. Radiology came. I’ve never felt moreproud of our hospital.”

“You were seeing amputations everywhere,” shecontinued. “We had 16 critical patients within 30minutes. Everybody did an incredible job. What ahorrific, horrific thing happened. Everyone wanted tohelp. I mean everyone. It was so good to see. Wewould not have done that good without a teameffort.”

Trudy Joseph, a pre-surgical servicesrepresentative, didn’t have direct access to patients,but commented on the overall atmosphere of thehospital and her fellow 1199SEIU members andother staff rushing to help people in need.

“It was crazy. Everybody was sad, trying tofigure out what was going on. It was unbelievable.My department books surgical rooms. We stayed intothe evening. The emergency room was verycrowded,” she said. Joseph’s shift was supposed toend earlier that afternoon, but like many medicalstaff across the City of Boston, she stayed into theevening assisting her co-workers in coordinating andproviding care.

Although there was a lot of chaos with people inpain and suffering, Trudy said the staff ralliedtogether to provide comfort to the victims and theirfamilies.

“When I passed by the ER, I saw everyonetalking to each other. People were trying to supportone another. You saw people who were trying to bethere for the next person,” she said.

From nurses to maintenance workers to unitsecretaries to patient access representatives,1199SEIU members delivered — and continue tobring — compassion and comfort to the victims of theBoston Marathon tragedy.

1199SEIU’s President George Gresham, SecretaryTreasurer Maria Castaneda and Executive VicePresident Veronica Turner expressed theirsympathies and support in a joint email: “As a unitedfamily of 375,000 caregivers across the East Coast,including nearly 50,000 caregivers in Massachusetts,we send our deepest condolences, unity, and love tothe families and friends of the departed. We extendour unity, love, and prayers also to those still battlingfor life or against injury — whether they are in ourdirect care or in the capable caring hands of ourmedical colleagues across the great City of Boston.”

You can contribute to the One Fund Boston, Inc.to help the people most affected by the tragicevents that occurred in Boston on April 15, atOneFundBoston.org.

OUR UNION

OUR BOSTON HEROES1199ers were on the front lines of caringfor victims of the Marathon Day tragedy.

“People weretrying to supportone another. Yousaw people whowere trying to bethere for the nextperson.”

— Trudy Joseph, pre-surgical servicesrepresentative, Boston Medical Center

ROSE LINCOLN PHOTO

11 Spring • Our Life And Times

OUR DELEGATES

WISDOM & EXPERIENCEMoreThis is the second of a two-part feature dedicated to our long-timedelegates. The last Our Life And Times was about the importance ofour delegates; this issue is about the things that mobilize, radicalizeand ultimately keep our delegates and the rest of our Union on themove. With the question of what it takes to be a good leader in mind,we once again asked some of our long-serving delegates whatinsights they’ve gained over their years as trade unionists.

Millicent Peterkin, Grace Plaza Nursing Home andRehabilitation Center, Great Neck, NY,receptionist, delegate for 23 years.

12Spring • Our Life And Times

OUR DELEGATES

Jo-Ann Holmes, Home Health Management, New York, NY, home health aide, delegate for 15 years.

You have to lead people the right way.

You have to be firm at times. And you have to project that.

I’m a mother. It comes naturally to me.

Darrie Neely, Genesis Perring Parkway,Baltimore, MD, housekeeper, delegate for 20 years.

JAY MALLIN PHOTO

13 Spring • Our Life And Times

OUR DELEGATES

Richard Colon, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, patient access representative II,delegate for 16 years.

Evelyn Harris, Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital, Niagara Falls, NY, patient care assistant,delegate for 30 years.

14Spring • Our Life And Times

The life of 1199SEIUretiree LawrenceSilber spans thehistory of theUnion. Silber wasborn in Queens,

New York, in 1931, just monthsbefore the founding of Local 1199,Retail Drug Employees Union,1199SEIU’s predecessor.

Silber joined the Union in1954 and has carried his Unioncard proudly since then. “My lifewould have been far differentwithout 1199,” he readily admits.

“I worked in a pharmacy as ateenager, but I had no plans tobecome a pharmacists until two ofmy close friends decided to go topharmacy school and I decided todo the same,” Silber recalls.

After graduating in 1953,Silber landed a job at Manhattanmidtown drugstore where heearned about $84 a week — or alittle more than $2 an hour. Hesays that he fondly recalls servingcelebrities such as the Radio Citydancers, the Rockettes, but the jobdidn’t have a lot else to offer.“Although I had my pharmacydegree, I mainly did the work of aclerk, and we never had unionmeetings,” he says. We paid duesto some union whose name I can’t

ever remember, but we didn’t getmuch for it,” he adds.

A friend told Silber about anopening at Forest HeightsPharmacy in Queens. “I appliedfor the job and was hired,” Silbersays. “I became a member of 1199,and for the first time, I got to dothe work of a pharmacist.”

Silber remembers the ownersof the pharmacy as a fabulouscouple, both of whom were deeplyrooted in the community. “Theytreated the workers fairly, and wewere like family,” Silber says.When the owners of the pharmacydecided to retire, Silber and hispharmacist friend were able toscrape together the money to buythe business.

“That didn’t end my Unionmembership,” Silber stresses. “Ididn’t want to lose my benefits, soI stayed in the Union andcontinued to pay dues.”

After about seven years atForest Heights Pharmacy,Silber’s co-owner bought

him out. And about seven monthslater, Silber was hired as a leadpharmacist at a Pathmark store onLong Island. For virtually all ofthose of years he also was a Uniondelegate.

“I wanted to be a delegatebecause I knew it was a way tofight for my rights. And I wantedto help continue everything we hadwon,” Silber says. “Rememberwhen I joined 1199, we were asmall Union but members werecommitted. For example we didn’thave the building on 43rd Street.

“I remember being on anumber of contract negotiatingteams where we sometimes had tobargain all night to reach agree -ments. It was all worth it.”

Silber also recalls marchingon picket lines in the late1950s and early 1960sduring the historic hospital

organizing campaign. “Wepharmacists discussed whether weshould take on the responsibilityand I said that we should becausefor unions, there is strength innumbers. And look at us now. Weare one of the biggest and strongest.

“I also thought that it was theright thing to do.” And that wasSilber’s philosophy as a delegate.“If I thought a member was in thewrong, I would let them know,” hesays. “And I was willing to stickmy neck out for the membersbecause I knew that as a delegate,the Union leadership would always

back me up.”Silber can be found at the

1199SEIU Retirees Manhattanoffice on Monday’s when heattends opera and art appreciationclasses. Both are provided for anyinterested 1199SEIU retirees in theregion. “It’s another benefit ofbeing an 1199 retiree,” he says.

“And I’ve been receivingbenefits throughout my Union life.I’ve had medical benefits for mywife and children,” he says. “Andthe monthly pension check is ablessing.”

Silber is proud that one of histwo grown children is a pharmacistand a granddaughter is inpharmacy school. “Since myfather-in-law also was apharmacist, that makes fourgenerations of pharmacists in thefamily,” he says.

Silber also embarked onanother career in retirement. Oncea week for the last 16 years, he hasworked as volunteer guide at theBronx Zoo. “I’ve always likedanimals and one of the things Ienjoyed most as a pharmacist wastalking to people. I get to do thatnow as a zoo docent.

“I have a lot to be thankful for,including my membership in1199.”

OneWho Paved The WayFrom drugstore delivery boy to delegate to Bronx Zoo guide.

“As a delegate,I knew theUnionleadershipwould alwaysback me up.”

— Retiree Lawrence Silber

OUR HISTORY

Retiree Lawrence Silber with aphoto from his early days as amember of 1199.

A late-winter blizzard didn’tfaze 1199SEIU members as theyheaded to the Rutgers LaborEducation Center in NewBrunswick, NJ March 8 to host anInternational Women’s Daycelebration. The event, whichhighlighted the leading role ofwomen in fighting for social andeconomic justice, drew feministactivists from as far away asZambia and the Philippines. Itwas also attended by some ofNew Jersey’s most influentialpolitical leaders, including StateSenator Barbara Buono, who isrunning for governor.

The importance ofInternational Women’s Day wasn’tlost on Regina Santos, a dietaryaide at Forest Hill HealthcareCenter in Newark, NJ. Santos hasworked at Forest Hill for four yearsand provides meals for dozens ofelderly people each day. Shefeeds her residents with love andcompassion because, like manyothers in New Jersey, she hasknown what it’s like to go hungry.At the event, Santos shared withthe audience a story of her past:getting into trouble as a teenager,being sent to youth home,becoming a mother at 17, andeventually living on the streets.

“But one day,” she said,“something came over me and Ibecame very tired of the way Iwas living. I joined supportgroups and became moreinvolved in the community. I gavemyself a chance to love myselfand my family.”

Santos received a standingovation from the crowd and herstory brought into sharp relief therealities facing New Jerseyanstoday: too many are goinghungry, victimized by violence,

and much more attention needsto be paid to serving the needs ofthe most vulnerable people in ourcommunities.

These are among the manyreasons why 1199SEIU membersare ramping up their politicalactivities and hosting events likeInternational Women’s Day – toensure that our elected officials willbe advocates for working families.

“Electing Sen. Barbara Buonoas our next governor is at the topof our to-do list,” said Santos.“She thinks like we think. Shesupports everything that helpspoor and middle classcommunities grow.”

1199SEIU endorsed Buono inMarch citing her support forraising the minimum wage, effortsto get dangerous weapons off thestreets, and commitment to stand

alongside health care workers onthe picket line. At the eventBuono acknowledged theinspiration she gets from womenlike Santos and other 1199ers.

“It is so good to be around1199SEIU women and menbecause you remind me of whatwe are fighting for. You are thecaretakers of the most vulnerable,the sickest in our nursing homesand hospitals,” Buono said. “Thework you do—just so you knowthis—keeps me going. You are thevoices of working families who areunited in a simple message that it’stime for a change in New Jersey.”

15 Spring • Our Life And Times

Hundreds of 1199ers were among 5,000 at Harlemrally against gun violence March 21.

Gun Violence ̋ New Jersey Governor Race ̋ Paid Sick Leave

Hundreds of 1199SEIU members wereamong the 5,000 New Yorkers whogathered in Harlem March 21 for a rally insupport of the NY SAFE Act and againstthe epidemic of gun violence sweeping thenation. The rally was sponsored by NewYork Voices Against Gun Violence, a wide-ranging coalition that includes communityleaders, elected officials, clergy, laborunions, victims of gun violence, and manyother concerned citizens.

“Too many of our young kids aredying. We have to step up and dosomething as parents and union members.We can’t just sit at home and watch thison television,” said Sherril Christian, alinen department worker at Beth IsraelMedical Center in Manhattan, as shegestured to the crowd around her.“I’m a mother and I worry if my kidsare going to come home. I have a son, 20,and a daughter, 14, and I can’t alwayswait for them to get home because I haveto work.”

A host of elected officials spoke at therally, as did Rev. Al Sharpton and1199SEIU Pres. George Gresham, whochallenged the crowd to take up theresponsibility of building a safer and morecivilized society by supporting commonsense legislation like NY SAFE Act. TheAct includes mental health backgroundchecks and limits on high-capacityammunition rounds.

“History should not reflect that SandyHook happened and we did nothing aboutit,” said Gresham.

The event’s special guest was singerTony Bennett, a civil rights activist andtireless supporter of progressive causes.

Corey Bell, a patient care associate atBeth Israel Medical Center, agreed withBennett and said healthcare workers havea special perspective on the costs of gunviolence; they see the victims in ourhospitals every day.

“Protecting one’s self is one thing,but we are living in a war zone,” said Bell.“These weapons that fire off 15 or 20rounds in a few seconds – that’s howinnocent people die. We want lawsthat are going to prevent that kindof violence.”

MEMBERSRALLY AGAINST GUNVIOLENCE

NJ 1199ers endorse Sen. Barbra Buono for Governor at Women’s Day event

Spring in New York City heralded amajor victory for the workers’ justicemovement when the City Council and itspresident, Christine Quinn, reachedagreement on a paid sick leave bill.

1199SEIU and its allies had foughtfor years for the legislation, Intro 97A.Introduced by Manhattan CouncilMember Gale Brewer, the bill wouldrequire businesses with 20 or moreemployees beginning on April 1, 2014 toprovide five sick days a year to theiremployees. The paid leave would extendto businesses with 15 or moreemployees on Oct. 1, 2015.

In addition, the bill would require allbusinesses regardless of size to provideunpaid sick leave to their employeesbeginning April 1, 2014.

1199SEIU is a member of the PaidSick Days Coalition that led the longcam paign. Pres. George Gresham issueda state ment following the agreement. Itsaid in part:

“As nurses and caregivers, themembers of our Union know howimportant this paid sick day legislation isfor working people and the public healthof our entire city. This law will allowhundreds of thousands of New Yorkers tostay home and recover from illness ortake care of a sick child without fear oflosing a paycheck or their jobs.

Paid sick days are also good for

employers in the long run and ouroverall economy. However, we aredisappointed that some businesslobbyists put pressure on the CityCouncil to water down this vitallegislation and weaken the originallanguage. Together with our brothersand sisters in this coalition, we willcontinue to fight for the interests ofworking families, and advance a strongprogressive agenda for our city.”

Some 145 nations provide paid sickdays for its workers. But one million NewYorkers and 44 million in the nation donot have paid sick days. Sen. Tom Harkin(D-IA) and Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-CT)recently introduced the Healthy FamiliesAct in Congress. It would provide sevenpaid sick days each year. Several states,including Massachusetts are consideringsick-leave bills.

Paid sick days generally are takenfor granted by union members. “I thinkit’s crazy for any employer not to providepaid sick days,” says 1199SEIU DelegateVeretta Owens, the lead access carecoordinator at St. John’s EpiscopalHospital in Far Rockaway, Queens. “Ifemployers want committed workers,they should show some concerns fortheir workers’ health.”

At press time, the Council was sched -uled to vote on the measure on May 8.

PAID SICK LEAVE TO BECOME LAW IN NYC

“If employerswantcommittedworkers, theyshould showsomeconcerns fortheir workers’health.”

Around the Union

NJ 1199ers with Sen. BarbaraBuono, who they endorsed forgovernor at an InternationalWomen’s Day event March 8.

— Veretta Owens,lead access carecoordinator, St. John’sEpiscopal Hospital,Far Rockaway, NY

THE BACK PAGE

THE TIME IS NOW!Hundreds of 1199ers wereamong the participantswho came to Washington,DC on April 10 for amassive rally to demandimmigration reform now. See pages 6-7.