AAOC Update: Our Union, Our Vision

May 2011

"The stronger we are, the stronger our union is," Helen Bouman, RN and President of UNAC/UHCP's Garden Grove affiliate, told the other Affiliate Officers this afternoon, as they worked together to lay out a vision for the future of the union over the next ten years.

Bouman told how Garden Grove nurses stood together when their hospital's new owner unilaterally withdrew their sick leave accrual. The nurses filed a grievance, submitted evidence, and ultimately won it all back. "The more active we are in our facilities," she said, "the greater our morale."

Member-leaders at the Annual Affiliate Officers Conference (AAOC) broke into groups to consider their vision for the future of the union, obstacles to that vision, and one word that would sum up the vision.

Together the words from the separate groups wove a vision of empowerment, solidarity, perseverance, caring, and kick-ass advocacy.

To reach that vision, officers considered that the union must improve communication, as well as member education and engagement. Over the rest of today and tomorrow, before the AAOC ends, the officers will develop plans for realizing their vision.

"We need a greater voice in our facilities and in our industry," said Helen Bouman, RN.