Political And Community Organizing Department Report We know that in addition to members organizing with one another, they must also organize with the broader community, including elected leaders, to win improvements for patients and healthcare professionals. The Political and Community Organizing (PCO) department understands that what happens on the job impacts various communities. Healthcare workers are a part of the community. Many work in healthcare settings but have at one time been patients. When workers are not treated well, the community will suffer. The workplace and the community overlap. When psych units are closed, workers are displaced and communities lose access to crucial mental health services. When nurses negotiate safe staffing, families have a higher degree of confidence that their loved ones will be well cared for.
their patients. To ensure that members have a strong voice on the job, PCO focused on building NYSNA’s political power through:
Over the last year, PCO has worked to ensure political leaders and the public understand the issues confronting nurses and healthcare professionals and
In addition, PCO ensured that members had an audience with the people who create, implement and enforce the law by arranging one-on-one meetings with elected leaders, inviting elected leaders to member speak-outs, informational pickets, rallies and town halls, and
Senator Chuck Schumer visits Lincoln Medical Center. 14
2021: We are one
l Training members, l Educating elected leaders and the
public, and l Building coalitions.
The PCO department supported members’ leadership by developing Political Action Teams (PAT) in local bargaining units and organizing regional PAT meetings. PAT members met with a host of state and local legislators in several regions of the state to educate them about issues like short staffing and the need for mental health services. PAT members also participated in candidate interviews for local elected office and volunteered to help get out the vote (GOTV).
urging elected leaders to use their power to impact the material conditions of working people. For instance, NYSNA members would not have had an audience with Attorney General Leticia James or Governor Kathy Hochul without Michelle Crentsil, the director of PCO, the PCO team and NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane. PCO also forged alliances with community organizations and other unions to support the Save and Transform Mount Vernon Hospital Coalition and the Kingston Campus of HealthAlliance Hospital. Both entities hugely impact their communities. With members’ strong voices and assistance from local leaders and dozens of community-based groups, NYSNA was able to increase awareness about these campaigns. Notably, we helped publish the “Unequal Empire” report on the Montefiore system and racism and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare (Mount Vernon). In fact, County Executive Pat Ryan created a Mental Health Task Force (HealthAlliance), and NYSNA is a member of that influential entity.
Judith Cutchins, RN, and Sonia Lawrence, RN with Congressman Ritchie Torres
