LARGEST HEALTHCARE UNION IN FLORIDA MERGES WITH 1199 SEIU UNITED HEALTHCARE WORKERS EAST

Merger adds even more strength to healthcare workers standing up for quality care and good jobs for working families

(New York, NY) - Members of Florida’s leading healthcare union voted by an almost 97 percent margin to join forces with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The 16,000 healthcare workers represented by SEIU Healthcare Florida will now become part of 1199 SEIU, the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the country.  Among the top priorities of the newly merged unions are protecting quality of care for patients, raising job standards for healthcare workers, supporting pro-worker candidates and legislation, and making sure every single healthcare worker in Florida can have a union voice.

This merger builds on the longstanding relationship between the two unions. 1199 SEIU has provided resources to help organize Florida healthcare workers into SEIU Healthcare Florida and sent members and staff to work on political campaigns, including the Kerry and Obama presidential elections.  Similar to 1199, SEIU Healthcare Florida’s membership is comprised predominantly of women, many of whom are recent immigrants.  Nearly 6,000 1199 retirees currently live in Florida, adding to the base of support for future organizing and political work in the state.

“Having a strong union voice gives us more power to advocate for patient care,” said Betsy Marville, RN, Executive Vice President of SEIU Healthcare Florida’s Nurse Division.  “This is an unprecedented opportunity for healthcare workers to ensure that new policies are implemented with our voices front and center.”

Monica Russo, President of SEIU Healthcare Florida said, “The voices of Florida’s healthcare workers to advocate for their patients and professions just grew 30 times more powerful. Joining the largest healthcare workers’ union in the country will provide the resources to dramatically improve healthcare delivery for Florida’s patients and nursing home residents.”

1199 SEIU’s Executive Council voted unanimously last month to approve the merger, and Florida members voted by mail-in ballots, which were counted on Tuesday.

“We are excited to welcome the healthcare workers of Florida into our union,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. “Together we will make sure that healthcare workers are valued for their important contribution to our communities and that patients receive the best possible care. With our voices united, we’ll have more strength and resources to raise standards for healthcare workers in the state of Florida and throughout the country.”

The merger, which goes into effect on July 1st, 2010, will carry forward the momentum that healthcare workers have created in Florida, providing energy and resources to continue organizing more caregivers into the union. SEIU Healthcare Florida currently represents workers at more than 100 facilities across the state. Members work in some of Florida’s largest for-profit healthcare chains and academic institutions, including HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), Tenet, SeaCrest, Greystone and University of Miami Hospital. 

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With 350,000 members in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington D.C., 1199 SEIU is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the country. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.