Sierra Vista Behavioral Health Center

Dear SEIU Local 121RN Members,

Tuesday, October 9th, our Executive Board (made up of your colleagues chosen by you to represent Union members at each of our hospitals) selected our new Executive Director, who will work with me and the other Officers and Executive Board to lead our Union. After a thorough, months-long interview process and a selection vote, the Executive Board selected Rosanna Mendez, currently our Union’s Chief of Staff, as Executive Director.

Rosanna will begin her new role in January and will work with me, the other Officers and our full Executive Board to continue the work of building our Union strength in all of our hospitals and at the state capitol.

Rosanna brings 17 years of experience in the labor movement, including more than 15 with SEIU and nearly six here at 121RN. At 121RN, she has worked alongside and shared responsibility with our Executive Director, Sue Weinstein, in a shared vision to improve representation, bargain strong contracts, strengthen our Steward training and recruitment program, and strategically grow our political and member activism campaigns to win solid Nurse and patient laws in Sacramento.

I have worked closely with Rosanna and I know she will bring her incredible energy and deep commitment to leadership growth and development to this important role in our Union.

As Executive Director, Rosanna will supervise the day-to-day operations of the Union, including supervision of Union staff, fiscal management of the Local, and accurate maintenance of membership data. A full description of this role can by found in Article 7 of our Union’s Constitution and Bylaws.

Please join me in welcoming Rosanna into her new role.

And I know you all join me in thanking our longtime Executive Director Sue Weinstein for her many years of service to building this Local during very challenging times. We look forward to our continued work with her until the end of the year, while she transitions out of her role and into the next chapter of her life. We wish you all the best, Sue!

In Unity,

Gayle Batiste President, SEIU Local 121RN RN, CNOR, Northridge