OUR UNION
The Work We Do
Walking the Walk Union members traveled to Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King and continue the fight for racial equity in the United States.
4 4. Jasmine Parker is a Barista at the Starbucks concession in the Milstein building at the hospital and is in training to become an 1199 Delegate. “We have a pretty amazing contract and I wanted to make sure that other members know what is in it, so they don’t get walked over.” When the Starbucks opened almost five years ago, Parker was already working in Food Service at the hospital. “They told us it was the face of the hospital, the first thing that people see when they walk in. I like talking to people, so I applied and got the job.” Looking after two kids, aged 8 and 13, she is also glad to have the extra cash from the recent League reopener contract that the Union bargaining committee negotiated last March. “We know that our wages are higher than the average Starbucks barista, thanks to our 1199 contract.” 5. In the same ward as Guzman is EVS member, Petronila Reyes, who has worked at the hospital for 20 years and was recently presented with a Shining Star award from the hospital for the quality of her work. “I like to help people,” she says, “When they take the
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5 babies out of their intensive care beds to do further tests, I always make sure to go in and do a deep clean. For me it is so important that these fragile babies are protected from infection.” With five children of her own aged between 8 and 23, Reyes has benefited from the 1199SEIU Child Care Fund over the years. Her daughter is now studying pre-law with the help of the Fund’s Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
“We know that our wages are higher than the average Starbucks barista, thanks to our 1199 contract.” – Jasmine Parker
It has been 60 years since 1199 members and their families traveled to Washington DC to march alongside fellow civil rights campaigners as they demanded voting rights. On that day in late August 1963, members heard Dr Martin Luther King, Jr deliver his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. To commemorate the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and in recognition of the fact that the fight for racial justice continues to this day, members again boarded buses on August 26, 2023 to make their voices heard in the continuing fight for civil rights, equality and economic justice for all.
“We know that 60 years ago to the day, Dr Martin Luther King marched here on these grounds fighting for the rights of workers and equality. That means a lot to me as a person of color.”
Norkecha Battle, traveled all the way from Springfield, MA, to attend the march. She said: “I’m so excited to be here today. We know that 60 years ago to the day, Dr Martin Luther King marched here on these grounds fighting for the rights of workers and equality. That means a lot to me as a person of color. We’re here today to represent the workers of America, not just for minority groups. We’re here for all people. We’ve come so far, and we still have far to go. But I’m happy to be here today, making history.” An 1199 Social Worker from Baltimore, Keith Booth, agreed: “It’s a historical moment. I was about six years old when the March on Washington took place with the late great Dr Martin Luther King. I’m here in commemoration of that history, which is part of American history, our history. I’m also here to deal with the issues in the present time —inequality in the health care profession, for example. I’m here in support of all workers.
Members from across 1199 regions travel to Washington D.C. to promote racial equity.
– Norkecha Battle, PCA from Springfield, MA
1199 Magazine
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