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SEIU Nurses Fight Health Related Budget Cuts During Nurse Week

California Nurses Attend Legislative Conference, Advocate for New Safety Regulations

Leg Conference 2009On May 5 and 6, SEIU nurses from around California gathered at the 2009 Nurse Alliance Legislative Conference in Sacramento to strategize how to put nurses at the center of the discussions around health care reform. 60 nurses from six different SEIU Nurse alliance of California locals spent the first day in workshops, and the second day educating legislators about potential new safety regulations and the risk to all Californians from the threat of further state budget cuts.

"The info we're getting from individuals who can analyze what's happening is invaluable," said attendee Carmen Cruise, an Carmen CruiseRN at Kern Medical Center and a member of SEIU Local 521 (pictured right.) "It empowers us to speak to our legislators and our neighbors too. It helps us move issues like national healthcare reform. As nurses, we will make a difference if we mobilize our numbers."

During workshops nurses spent time building awareness of state laws and regulations, with the goal of using the knowledge to develop strategies for client advocacy to improve care and working conditions at the local level. Nurses learned about AB 1083, a new piece of proposed legislation that would require California health facilities to develop a plan for addressing violence in the workplace. Facilities would also have to follow that plan up at least once a year with continuing education for their staff.

In addition, nurses learned about proposals to develop stronger regulations around the spread of airborne pathogens. The movement for new airborne pathogen regulations was started by SEIU in 2008, and seems even more timely now with the advent of the swine flu(H1N1) virus around the world this year. Mark Catlin, an Industrial Hygienist and HAZMET Coordinator who is part of the SEIU Health and Safety Department, also talked about SEIU’s swine flu response plan that nurses can take back and promote in their home facilities.

Jim Owen, an SEIU member from Local 121RN, got in front of the group on the first day and urged participants to get behind the SEIU nurse agenda in Sacramento. Because our union has the ear of state politicians, Jim reminded the nurses in attendance that they can play a key role in fighting against budget cuts that will endanger the health safety net in California. After gaining an understanding of the current health related proposals before the Assembly and Senate committees, nurses spent the second day meeting with legislators.

All in all, attendees felt the legislative conference was a great way to honor their work during Nurse Week. Attendees were provided a valuable opportunity to network and learn to work together to ensure a strong health system for California.