Legislative & Political Update – March/April’11 Voice

April 2011

Elected Officials Rally Behind Beverly Hospital Registered Nurses

With the support of elected officials representing the San Gabriel Valley, the Beverly Registered Nurses overwhelmingly voted for collective bargaining rights. State Senators and Assembly members, including a Congresswoman, made phone calls and wrote letters to the CEO of Beverly Hospital urging hospital management to refrain from union busting tactics and to allow the RNs a fair and transparent election. In addition, the Elected Officials also wrote a joint letter to the Beverly Hospital RNs supporting their efforts. In their joint letter, the elected officials wrote “ …We stand with you in your quest to form a collective voice at Beverly Hospital.”

Before the election, UNAC/UHCPs Political and Legislative Department met with the elected officials and their staff to request their support for the Beverly Hospital Nurses. The Department used existing relationships in Sacramento, established through their political program, to assist the Beverly campaign. The political program was developed to protect the rights of UNAC/UHCP’s RNs and health care professionals through the legislative process. Often times, the Department looks for members to assist them in their advocacy work. For more information or to get involved, email politicaldept@unacuhcp.org.

Many thanks to the elected officials who supported the Beverly Hospital RNs: Congresswoman Judy Chu; State Senators Ron Calderon, Ed Hernandez and Kevin De Leon; Assembly members Charles Calderon, Gil Cedillo, Mike Eng, Ricardo Lara and Roger Hernandez; El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero; Pico Rivera Councilman Gustavo Camacho; Montebello Unified School Board President David Vela, and Hacienda/La Puente School Board President Jay Chen.