| How are you commemorating National Nurses Week—this week set aside annually to honor the everyday heroes in the nursing profession? During National Nurses Week and throughout the year, SEIU nurses want to be united, not divided—with other nurses, with other healthcare workers, with patient care advocates—to work for a quality care environment. But sadly, SEIU nurses in Nevada and around the country are spending the week renewing their call for an end to the divisive actions of the California Nurses Association (CNA), which is busy declaring “real war” on nurses. The outcome of an election over union representation remains in balance for 1,000 nurses at three Las Vegas hospitals, after months of CNA's lies and false promises failed to capture enough votes to lure nurses away from SEIU. CNA is devoting massive resources to divide nurses at a critical time when workers need each other and patients need them most. In addition to the Vegas raid attempt, the CNA is actively trying to decertify SEIU nurses throughout California and elsewhere in the country. In March, the CNA waged an aggressive "vote no" campaign in Ohio, forcing the cancellation of union elections for 8,300 nurses and hospital workers in nine hospitals. In recent years the CNA also has raided other unions or intervened in other unions' organizing drives in Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and other states. For more information on any of these, go to www.shameoncna.com/. So back to the question of how best to commemorate National Nurses Week. How about by signing a mutual no-raid agreement? SEIU is offering to sign one with the CNA and its allied organizations anytime and anywhere. Please, rather than dividing the too-few nurses who already have a union voice, let's unite the 85% who don't—for patients and for the profession. ~posted by Nadia, SEIU |
