UAN / AFL-CIO to Affiliate

Published

Press release:

5/4/01

"UAN Moves Forward with Historic AFL-CIO Affiliation

More Than 100,000 UAN RNs Nationwide Poised to Join the House of Labor

Washington, DC -- Registered staff nurses from the United American Nurses (UAN), the nationwide union arm of the American Nurses Association, took an historic step yesterday toward affiliation with the AFL-CIO and full partnership with the 68 unions that make up the House of Labor.

UAN's Executive Council yesterday evening strongly and unanimously passed a resolution recommending that delegates to the UAN's National Labor Assembly approve a charter for AFL-CIO affiliation when the Assembly convenes in June. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney was authorized during an earlier meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive Council in Boston yesterday to issue a charter to the UAN.

The UAN is the largest RN union in the nation, with more than 100,000 nurses in its 26 constituent nursing associations.

"We're delighted that the AFL-CIO Executive Council has authorized President Sweeney to issue a charter to the UAN, and we're confident that delegates to the UAN's National Labor Assembly who in June 2000 directed our Executive Council to seek an AFL-CIO charter will enthusiastically approve," said UAN President and Chair Cheryl Johnson, RN. "RNs across the nation have embraced union organizing, representation and bargaining to secure better

working conditions, recognition and respect for their professional expertise and appropriate compensation and benefits."

Affiliation with the AFL-CIO unites staff nurses across the country with the 13 million working women and men of the largest labor organization in the country," added UAN Director Susan Bianchi-Sand. "We're looking forward to working in partnership with the AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions to fight for quality patient care and safe work and care conditions for nurses."

"The UAN brings a wealth of professional expertise in the work of health care, and we look forward to their affiliation with the AFL-CIO with pride and excitement," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "We have deep respect for the voice the American Nurses Association has given to registered nurses for more than 100 years. Together, we can be even more effective in addressing the persistent health care problems that plague American

families, as well as the issues facing nurses and all health care workers, who too often bear the brunt of a system under siege."

"The ANA expresses its congratulations to the UAN and its appreciation to the AFL-CIO for recognizing the significant contribution that the UAN makes to nurses who choose collective bargaining," stated ANA President Mary E. Foley, MS, RN. "We look forward to our new partnership so we can advance issues of patient safety and advocacy. It's an historic step that is good for nurses, patients and quality health care."

UAN's Labor Assembly, the top policy-making body of organized RNs from across the country, last year directed UAN's executive council to begin the process of seeking an AFL-CIO affiliation. Delegates to the National Labor Assembly will formally vote on acceptance of the AFL-CIO charter during the 2001 Labor Assembly, June 27-28, in Washington, DC.

The United American Nurses, the labor arm of the American Nurses Association, is the nation's largest union of RNs and is comprised of state nursing associations from 24 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's nearly 2.7 million Registered Nurses through its 54 constituent member state nurses associations. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and

regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

http://www.ana.org/pressrel/2001/pr0503a.htm

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Press release:

5/4/01

"UAN Moves Forward with Historic AFL-CIO Affiliation

More Than 100,000 UAN RNs Nationwide Poised to Join the House of Labor

Washington, DC -- Registered staff nurses from the United American Nurses (UAN), the nationwide union arm of the American Nurses Association, took an historic step yesterday toward affiliation with the AFL-CIO and full partnership with the 68 unions that make up the House of Labor.

UAN's Executive Council yesterday evening strongly and unanimously passed a resolution recommending that delegates to the UAN's National Labor Assembly approve a charter for AFL-CIO affiliation when the Assembly convenes in June. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney was authorized during an earlier meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive Council in Boston yesterday to issue a charter to the UAN.

The UAN is the largest RN union in the nation, with more than 100,000 nurses in its 26 constituent nursing associations.

"We're delighted that the AFL-CIO Executive Council has authorized President Sweeney to issue a charter to the UAN, and we're confident that delegates to the UAN's National Labor Assembly who in June 2000 directed our Executive Council to seek an AFL-CIO charter will enthusiastically approve," said UAN President and Chair Cheryl Johnson, RN. "RNs across the nation have embraced union organizing, representation and bargaining to secure better

working conditions, recognition and respect for their professional expertise and appropriate compensation and benefits."

Affiliation with the AFL-CIO unites staff nurses across the country with the 13 million working women and men of the largest labor organization in the country," added UAN Director Susan Bianchi-Sand. "We're looking forward to working in partnership with the AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions to fight for quality patient care and safe work and care conditions for nurses."

"The UAN brings a wealth of professional expertise in the work of health care, and we look forward to their affiliation with the AFL-CIO with pride and excitement," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "We have deep respect for the voice the American Nurses Association has given to registered nurses for more than 100 years. Together, we can be even more effective in addressing the persistent health care problems that plague American

families, as well as the issues facing nurses and all health care workers, who too often bear the brunt of a system under siege."

"The ANA expresses its congratulations to the UAN and its appreciation to the AFL-CIO for recognizing the significant contribution that the UAN makes to nurses who choose collective bargaining," stated ANA President Mary E. Foley, MS, RN. "We look forward to our new partnership so we can advance issues of patient safety and advocacy. It's an historic step that is good for nurses, patients and quality health care."

UAN's Labor Assembly, the top policy-making body of organized RNs from across the country, last year directed UAN's executive council to begin the process of seeking an AFL-CIO affiliation. Delegates to the National Labor Assembly will formally vote on acceptance of the AFL-CIO charter during the 2001 Labor Assembly, June 27-28, in Washington, DC.

The United American Nurses, the labor arm of the American Nurses Association, is the nation's largest union of RNs and is comprised of state nursing associations from 24 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's nearly 2.7 million Registered Nurses through its 54 constituent member state nurses associations. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and

regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

http://www.ana.org/pressrel/2001/pr0503a.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"UFCW Welcomes United American Nurses As An AFL-CIO Affiliate

National Desk, Labor Reporter

Greg Denier, Jill Cashen,

WASHINGTON, May 2 /U.S. Newswire/ --

Doug Dority, President of the 1.4

million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW),

extended his welcome to the United American Nurses (UAN) following the

AFL-CIO's decision to grant a charter to the registered nurses organization......

The UAN and its parent organization, the American Nurses Association, has

been seeking status as a charted organization of the nation's largest labor

federation, the AFL-CIO. The UFCW was a strong proponent and leading advocate

for the UAN position in the charter debate. UFCW President Dority is a member

of the AFL-CIO's Executive Council and cast his vote to grant UAN the

sought-after charter......

Registered nurses are increasingly organizing into unions as managed and

profit-centered care are pressuring the traditional professionalism and

patient-centered care of the nurse. Organized nurses have become a leading

voice for keeping care in the health care system......

"Registered nurses are key to protecting health care quality. Unionization is

key to making sure that the voice of the nursing profession is heard on

issues from salaries to staffing," said Dority......

Affiliation of the UAN with the AFL-CIO will require a vote of the UAN/ANA

governing body.....

The UFCW through its health care division has been actively organizing

registered nurses and other health care professionals. Registered nurses at

Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida and St. John's Mercy

Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri made history by organizing for a voice

on the job with the UFCW in the past several years. Health care

professionals, nursing home workers and other caregivers continue to stand up

for a voice on the job with the UFCW......

"We look forward to working together with the UAN to build a strong movement

among registered nurses. With 2 million unorganized nurses in the country, ........"

"UFCW Welcomes United American Nurses As An AFL-CIO Affiliate

National Desk, Labor Reporter

Greg Denier, Jill Cashen,

WASHINGTON, May 2 /U.S. Newswire/ --

Doug Dority, President of the 1.4

million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW),

extended his welcome to the United American Nurses (UAN) following the

AFL-CIO's decision to grant a charter to the registered nurses organization......

The UAN and its parent organization, the American Nurses Association, has

been seeking status as a charted organization of the nation's largest labor

federation, the AFL-CIO. The UFCW was a strong proponent and leading advocate

for the UAN position in the charter debate. UFCW President Dority is a member

of the AFL-CIO's Executive Council and cast his vote to grant UAN the

sought-after charter......

Registered nurses are increasingly organizing into unions as managed and

profit-centered care are pressuring the traditional professionalism and

patient-centered care of the nurse. Organized nurses have become a leading

voice for keeping care in the health care system......

"Registered nurses are key to protecting health care quality. Unionization is

key to making sure that the voice of the nursing profession is heard on

issues from salaries to staffing," said Dority......

Affiliation of the UAN with the AFL-CIO will require a vote of the UAN/ANA

governing body.....

The UFCW through its health care division has been actively organizing

registered nurses and other health care professionals. Registered nurses at

Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida and St. John's Mercy

Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri made history by organizing for a voice

on the job with the UFCW in the past several years. Health care

professionals, nursing home workers and other caregivers continue to stand up

for a voice on the job with the UFCW......

"We look forward to working together with the UAN to build a strong movement

among registered nurses. With 2 million unorganized nurses in the country, ........"

Hi -jt. Thanks for the info. Do you know what type of benefits nurses will receive as a result of being a part of the UFCW? Will these benefits be a good as the feds?

Hi -jt. Thanks for the info. Do you know what type of benefits nurses will receive as a result of being a part of the UFCW? Will these benefits be a good as the feds?

"Do you know what type of benefits nurses will receive as a result of being a part of the UFCW? "

The UAN only AFFILIATED with the AFL-CIO - it remains an independent organization within the ANA & it isnt merged or absorbed into any other union so I dont know about the other unions benefits. You might try the UFCW website to look up their member benefits.

"Do you know what type of benefits nurses will receive as a result of being a part of the UFCW? "

The UAN only AFFILIATED with the AFL-CIO - it remains an independent organization within the ANA & it isnt merged or absorbed into any other union so I dont know about the other unions benefits. You might try the UFCW website to look up their member benefits.

I don't think that the UAN will get any specific, tangible benefits from affiliation. What thety will get is support for strikes, informational picketing, etc. The AFL-CIO unions will refuse to cross the lines of any striking nurses that are represented by a State Nurses' Association that is under the umbrella of UAN. This support will go a long way to reducing strike time, as it will be much harder for health care facilities to operate if all AFL-CIO workers in a particular facility refuse to work in support of striking nurses, and refuse to make deliveries or pickups at a striking facility. The AFL-CIO will provide encouragement, knowledge, expertise, and support-both emotionally, and possibly monetary, for striking nurses' unions/associations.

I don't think that the UAN will get any specific, tangible benefits from affiliation. What thety will get is support for strikes, informational picketing, etc. The AFL-CIO unions will refuse to cross the lines of any striking nurses that are represented by a State Nurses' Association that is under the umbrella of UAN. This support will go a long way to reducing strike time, as it will be much harder for health care facilities to operate if all AFL-CIO workers in a particular facility refuse to work in support of striking nurses, and refuse to make deliveries or pickups at a striking facility. The AFL-CIO will provide encouragement, knowledge, expertise, and support-both emotionally, and possibly monetary, for striking nurses' unions/associations.

Hi. Thank for the clarification RNPD. I've worked a short stint in insurance before and the UFCW insurance benefits were not all that great at that time.

Hi. Thank for the clarification RNPD. I've worked a short stint in insurance before and the UFCW insurance benefits were not all that great at that time.

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