A Closer look at NYSNA: political and Community organizing

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 . over the last year, pCo has worked to ensure political leaders and the public understand the issues confronting nurses and healthcare professionals and their patients . to ensure that members have a strong voice on the job, pCo focused on building NYSNA’s political power through: 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) . 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 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 .

Senator Chuck Schumer visits Lincoln Medical Center. Judith Cutchins, RN, and Sonia Lawrence, RN with Congressman Ritchie Torres

NYSNA Members at NY-P Brooklyn Methodist Hospital with NYS Attorney General Letitia James

Constance Clark, RN, joins speak out to raise awareness about conditions at Rikers. Nonviolent Medicaid Army rally at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital

to build political power, the pCo team organized in support of key legislation, specific candidates and mutually beneficial coalitions . obviously, one of the biggest pieces of legislation pCo organized in support of was the safe staffing legislation . NYSNA submitted testimony, arranged legislative visits, made one-on-one phone calls and hosted actions in support of the legislation, which will help nurses and patients alike . We are clear that a key priority for 2022 is ensuring the safe staffing law is implemented as promised .

lABorsTrong2021

NYSNA partnered with 4 other labor unions (SeIu 32BJ, DC37, Hotel trades Council, and Communications Workers of America), to create a coalition called laborStrong2021 . labor Strong 2021 made joint endorsements in 35 city council seats, making this the biggest, labor-funded effort in the primary election . the coalition, representing over 362,000 essential workers, had an impact, winning 28 city council races . We proved that when workers unite, we win! In addition to the laborStrong2021 partnership, NSYNA endorsed in 9 other NYC races winning 7 of them . this includes former NYSNA member, Mercedes Narcisse, who won her primary election for City Council District 46 in Brooklyn . NYSNA candidates for NYC Mayor, public Advocate, Bronx Borough president, Manhattan Borough president, and Queens Borough president were also successful in their elections . NYSNA also helped make history, by successfully backing councilmember Adrienne Adams for NYC Council Speaker . She is the first Black Speaker in the Council’s history . thank to members, the majority of NYSNA’s NYC endorsed candidates won their races .