Posts Categorized: Lobby Day

On March 28, UFCW Local 1625 held a lobby day in Tallahassee, Fla., with members who work in hospitals and nursing homes as nurses and nursing assistants. The day gave UFCW Local 1625 members the opportunity to speak with state legislators about SB 676 and HB 7, harmful bills in both chambers that would eliminate Florida’s Certificate of Need (CON) program. The CON program requires health care facilities to have state approval before offering new or expanded services. This process ensures all communities have equal access to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and other facilities.

Gloria Rainey, a UFCW Local 1625 member who works at a nursing home in Jacksonville, Fla., spoke passionately about why she chose to attend the lobby day.

“More than anything, I wanted to be here to give the residents we care for a voice,” said Rainey. “These bad bills won’t just hurt our jobs, they would also give patients less of a chance to find high quality health care.”

One of the biggest concerns about eliminating the CON review process is that it would allow the opening of new facilities who would only accept private insurance. The result would be a two-tiered health system in Florida – one for wealthy patients and one for everyone else – that would raise costs and lower the quality of care.

As the day came to a close, Rainey reflected on how much she enjoyed participating in the lobby day.

“The UFCW allows me and my coworkers to have a stronger voice,” she said. “I love being a part of a team of people who have each other’s backs and supports one another. Being a member has helped me find my voice. Today I got to speak with my state senator and give my input on issues that will affect my livelihood and community. I was nervous at first, but once I started speaking about the issues how I saw them, I realized that my senator was listening and really taking in my opinion. We were taken seriously today and it felt good.”

Last week, members of UFCW Locals One, 342, 464-A, 888, 2013, 1245, 1262 and 1500 joined members of RWDSU Locals 338 and 1102 for a Lobby Day in Albany. UFCW and RWDSU members spent the day lobbying in support of S-52/ A-261, which addresses fair scheduling and would guarantee at least four hours of pay (at minimum wage) for workers who are required to contact their employer or wait to be contacted less than 24 hours before their shift starts.

UFCW and RWDSU members also spoke out against S-1280/A-6532, a minimum wage reimbursement tax credit, also known as the “Walmart Tax Break,” which would provide companies like Walmart and McDonald’s with a tax credit for hiring young workers at a low wage and cost the state of New York an estimated $43 million.

“We are the voice for the working families,” said Jerome Gomez, who works at Fairway Market on Long Island and is a member of Local 1500. “It’s very important that here in Albany, they hear us and our families. We are here to represent our community and our neighborhoods. The assemblymen and women we saw today, they live in our neighborhoods, they need to know and see us representing our community.”

“It gives you a chance to actually speak to the people who make things happen for your community,” said James Williams, who also works at Fairway Market and is a member of UFCW Local 1500. “I was very pleasantly surprised the way they took to us and they were open to our ideas and agendas. I’ll definitely be back.”