United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
5 Hill Street, Taunton, MA 02780
(774) 264 0110
office@uenortheast.org
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
Deb Peatman (left), President of UE Local 254, speaks at the "Because We Care" Justice for Healthcare Workers Conference at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier on March 8, 2003. UE Local 254 represents the staff at the Berlin Health and Rehab nursing home in Berlin VT. On her right is Sue Lucas, president of the UNAP local at Copley Hospital. Below are excerpts of her speech:
Our local has waged a historic fight, and it has not been easy, to become the first organized nursing home in the state of Vermont. We were able to stick together to win a first and second contract despite the corporate owners spending hundreds of thousands of health care dollars in an attempt to keep us from winning.
Only by organizing a Union have we had the protection to speak out against unsafe staffing levels. Only by organizing a Union have we been able to put the spot light on the real effects that we and our residents suffer when the corporate owners focus on the bottom line instead of resident care. Only by organizing a Union have we been able to fight to protect our members economic well-being.