United Nurses Bring On Activist Barbara Lewis as Director of Collective Bargaining and Representation Services

November 2010

San Dimas, CA – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is pleased to announce that Barbara Lewis has joined the Southern California-based nurses’ union as the Director of Collective Bargaining and Representation Services.

Lewis will work with the UNAC/UHCP affiliate leadership to continue strengthening and building UNAC/UHCP’s representation and collective bargaining programs. Lewis’ focus will be to ensure that UNAC/UHCP members have the primary voice in protecting and advancing high quality patient care, and continue to win contracts that recognize the skill, expertise and commitment of UNAC/UHCP’s membership to their patients and communities.

“UNAC/UHCP affiliates are member driven and often experience workplace rights and patient care issues that are specific to their employer,” said Kathy J. Sackman, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP. “By providing the appropriate resources, UNAC/UHCP ensures our membership is effectively represented. We welcome Barbara Lewis in helping us accomplish this goal.”

Lewis is a long-term, effective health care union activist, coming to UNAC/UHCP most recently from the National Union of Healthcare Workers. She has previously worked with the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) Local 2 and with several different affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Throughout her extensive career, Lewis has overseen bargaining, representation, training, leadership development, employer relations, membership participation in political programs and organizing. Among her successes, Lewis helped develop SEIU’s National Nurse Alliance program and served as statewide director of one of the largest health care campaigns in the country, organizing 25 Tenet Healthcare hospitals in California.

“I am excited about working with UNAC/UHCP’s registered nurses and other health care professionals to achieve their goals of providing the highest level of patient care and ensure they are recognized for their professional skills and expertise,” commented Lewis.  “Our members are on the frontlines of patient care and, in today’s healthcare industry, they need strong effective union leadership that will work tirelessly to address their concerns. UNAC/UHCP has a proven track record on their commitment and I’m thrilled to join such an effective leadership team.”

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