What Can We Win Together? Hear from 1199 Members:

1199SEIU Healthcare Workers Say: Join Us!
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Diane Delaney, Radiology Tech, White Plains Hospital, NY
“Management will say anything to convince you to vote no because they don’t want to spend their millions on higher wages and stronger benefits—and they know the power of our union. As 1199 members, we don’t pay a dime in healthcare, are compensated fairly, and get the respect we deserve.”
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John Perusse, Lead Surgical Tech, Northern Dutchess Hospital, NY
“Joining 1199 gave us the power to fight back when our employer was trying to downgrade our healthcare. We fought to win no-cost healthcare with zero co-pays, no deductibles, and no premiums. In my case, that’s almost an extra $600/month. When dues are only 2% of your salary, up to a maximum of $125/month, it’s a no-brainer.”
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Dawn Cholewka, Surgical Tech, Garnet Health Middletown
“I am proud of our 1199SEIU membership. We stood strong and were able to secure a contract that includes a 15% increase over 3 years, health insurance with no out of-pocket costs, and On Call increase of $15, then $17hr. This was a tough win, but a win!"
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Diana Nielsen, PTA, Southampton Hospital, NY
“Being part of 1199 offers me job security, regular pay raises, awesome health benefits and after working 36 years at another hospital, FINALLY a pension! As a union delegate, I have had the privilege of helping to negotiate our last contract and wording with other dedicated coworkers.”
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Christian Perez, Service Associate, Northern Westchester Hospital, NY
“Being part of 1199 means my colleagues and I have a voice and the power to negotiate fair contracts, so we are protected and supported. As a union member, I can maintain a fair salary according to my functions, good health insurance without copays for me and my loved ones, and job security. Also, I can go back to college to study health programs, with the educational advancement opportunities we have won through our union.”
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Linda O’Connor, RN, Bon Secours Community Hospital, NY
“Union membership with 1199SEIU gives you a seat at the table with management to ensure a safe work environment, fair wages, and affordable healthcare.”
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Brian Fullerton, Respiratory Therapist, Northern Westchester Hospital, NY
“With 1199, the benefits for me and my family are unbeatable. Being part of our union means my coworkers and I can fight for and win fair wages and the good working conditions we need to care for our patients.”
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Kerline Bissereth (right), Laboratory Technologist, South Shore University Hospital, NY
“1199’s Childcare Fund offsets the daily costs of childcare and has allowed me to send my kids to university summer camp every year for a month.”
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Lorraine Mercado, RN, South Oaks Hospital, Amityville, NY
“Joining the 1199SEIU family means our jobs and our futures are secure. Having job security makes such a difference. It allows us to focus all our attention on making sure our patients receive the best possible care.”
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Elise Rackmill, Social Worker, Continuum Network, New York
“Social workers benefit from the support, advocacy and job protection that 1199SEIU provides. 1199’s historic fight for social justice, civil rights, healthcare access and equality coincide with the values of our profession. 1199 has proudly been at the forefront of efforts to defend and strenghten the social work profession, from the fight against the attempted deregulation of Social Work Departments to the successful struggle to secure licensure.”
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Mary Jay-Ospina, Lab/Bloodbank Tech, Plainview Hospital, NY
“With 1199, I have not had to pay a dime for healthcare and after 25 proud years as a member, I will retire with a pension and even retiree healthcare. Achieving these and many more benefits took a real fight, but when you stand together in our union, you win.
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Maria Serna, Housekeeper, Northern Westchester Hospital, NY
“I am part of 1199 for the great medical benefits and the money I deserve for all my work.”
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Marc Goldberg, Physical Therapist, NYU Medical Center, NY
“Retention and recruitment have been major concerns at my workplace, which have required us to take on higher workloads and constantly train new staff. We decided to work with our union to establish policies to retain qualified therapists. This included creating salary differentials above our base pay for advanced masters, transitional DPT, entry-level DPT, DOT, PhD and specialty certifications from the APTA and AOTA. And 1199SEIU’s training fund helps us achieve all of these credentials at little cost. With the help of 1199SEIU, we are able to ensure that we keep the most skilled therapists and provide the best quality of care for our patients.”
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Alexi Matos, Lead Transporter/Dispatcher, Phelps Hospital
“My coworkers and I came together with 1199SEIU to win a real voice in our hospital. It’s the only way to ensure that management provides the adequate staffing and equipment we need to do our jobs properly. As 1199 members, my coworkers and I can be heard. United, we can achieve job security, improve our pay, secure our retirement, and protect our benefits.”
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Jon A Fatone, Watch Engineer, Northern Westchester Hospital
“My coworkers and I joined 1199 to have real job security, take advantage of advanced education opportunities, and protect each other. Through our union, we also achieve the fair wages and medical benefits we deserve.”
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Stella Davis, LPN, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, NY
“I’m in an RN program, and everything has been paid for by the 1199SEIU Training Fund, from pre-reqs to clinicals to books. I also recently took an in-service seminar in wound care through the union training fund for free, which would have cost me $1,500 out of pocket.”
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Vivian Stuart, clinical laboratory technologist, MS, MT (ASCP) and educator, NY
“With 1199SEIU, we led the effort to win licensure for clinical laboratory practitioners in New York State. It took many years of lobbying and speaking out, and we finally won. The union’s training fund regularly offers 3 and 6 credit CEU seminars at no cost. 1199SEIU is about being the best healthcare professional you can be, and getting respected and valued for your work.”
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Maureen Gill, Recreational Therapist, Cold Springs Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
“I’ve come to value 1199 so much. Not just in helping me further my education, but in striving for equality in the workplace and job protection. Our employer has tried to replace long term workers who have 40 years or more on the job with agency workers. We have been able to protect our jobs through our union."
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Michelle Pacheco, Housekeeper, White Plains Hospital, NY
“I’m able to see a doctor or get prescriptions without having any co-payments. Management can’t discriminate against me or any coworkers. We are protected from unfair discipline or getting fired without just cause. This is why I’m very proud to be part of 1199.”