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121RN Members Advocate Nursing Issues

May 16, 2016

[caption id="attachment_5469" align="alignnone" width="300"]President Barack Obama meets with nurses to discuss immigration reform, in the Oval Office, June 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. President Barack Obama meets with nurses, including Patricia Lopez and Alvin Vitug (second and third from left) to discuss immigration reform, in the Oval Office, June 9, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)[/caption]

Throughout each year, SEIU 121RN members lobby on behalf of or against state and federal legislative issues that could affect our patients and our profession.  Sometimes 121RN members even play a critical role in proposing beneficial legislation. While some legislation directly benefits nurses, such as the Cal/OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Regulation that should come into effect later this year, other legislation indirectly affects our patients or profession.

SEIU 121RN members Alvin Vitug, RN at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, and Patricia Lopez, RN at Riverside Community Hospital, joined a delegation of nurses from throughout the country that met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on June 9, 2014. The group spoke to the President on the importance of passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) and how it would have a beneficial impact on the Affordable Care Act and the healthcare industry.

“Through my Union and Mi Familia Vota, I had a chance to sit with President Obama to discuss Immigration Reform, an issue that’s important to nurses and to a portion of the patient population we serve at our hospitals.”

This meeting with the President is an example of Local 121RN’s legislative efforts. If you are interested in helping advocate our state and federal representatives on issues that affect patient care, your career and your hospital, please contact 121RN Political Director Frank Torres at torresf@seiu121rn.org.