President’s Message – July 2011
July 2011
Dear member,
While many of you know that UNAC/UHCP is there to fight by your side when there is a problem, you may not know the mission and values that drive this organization. Our guiding principles are grounded in the advancement of our members. They are listed below.
The mission of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is to empower health care professionals to be advocates for UNAC/UHCP members and patients: to create a high quality work environment; to provide economic and professional advancement; and to improve the quality of healthcare.
The values that guide the work of UNAC/UHCP are: health care professionals representing health care professionals, guided by transparent, accessible, democratic governance; advocacy for quality care; and the empowerment of our members.
Through our unique structure, we are able to live up to these ideals and represent every single member, regardless of issue, with vigor and professionalism. UNAC/UHCP is member driven, and even though we have a formal structure, every member can still call me personally. UNAC/UHCP revolves around our affiliates. Each facility elects its own leadership, and those local officers have local representatives they work with to make sure each member gets the attention he or she needs. Each affiliate has a representative on our Executive Council that meets every other month to manage union affairs. With over 20,000 members, this is the best way we've found to make sure we always hear your voice. We know that despite our size, each person we represent has unique needs.
I'm proud to say after 39 years, UNAC/UHCP remains health care professionals representing health care professionals. I hope you'll read our guiding principles closely, and let me know if you have any feedback.
In Solidarity,
Ken Deitz, RN
President