Health Care for All

UESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012, 5:30 PM EST

Contact: Jeff Hall, 617-281-8384, jeff.hall@1199.org, Twitter: @1199mass

Communications Director, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East

1199SEIU caregivers promote urban voter turnout on Election Day

MASSACHUSETTS – More than 1,000 volunteers who are members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East or who have been recruited by 1199SEIU members have participated in Election Day turnout efforts today across Massachusetts, with a particular focus on urban neighborhoods in Bay State cities. 1199SEIU is the largest and fastest growing union in the Commonwealth and is widely considered the most politically active Local union in the state.

1199SEIU Executive Vice President Veronica Turner and individual Election Day volunteers are available for interviews by contacting Jeff Hall @ 617-281-8384.

The Local of healthcare workers has grown from 10,000 members in 2005 to more than 47,000 members as of this year. 1199SEIU caregivers work in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care programs across the Commonwealth.

The healthcare workers have endorsed President Barack Obama and U.S Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, citing their positions on the Affordable Care Act, job creation, and fair taxation as key factors in winning the union’s backing.


Cities where the healthcare workers have focused their voter turnout efforts today include Boston, Brockton, Lawrence, Lynn,Fall River, New Bedford, Worcester, and Springfield. Volunteers began leaving door hangers in neighborhoods across the state as early as 6:45 A.M. this morning and then began door knocks and phone calls to potential voters around 10:00 A.M.

“The energy level is high and the enthusiasm amongst caregivers and voters we have spoken with is also high. We are seeing long lines at some polling locations and we’re encouraging folks to stick with it and take that extra time to make their vote count and their voice heard,” said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU.

SEIU is also running PSAs promoting voter participation on more than twenty alternate language and urban radio stations across the state in Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, and English, along with announcements on Spanish television networks Univision andTelefutura.

Mobilization activities will continue until polls close at 8:00 P.M. tonight. Volunteers have been assisting potential voters in finding their polling locations and distributing literature touting President Obama’s backing of Elizabeth Warren.

1199SEIU Executive Vice President Veronica Turner and individual Election Day volunteers are available for interviews by contacting Jeff Hall @ 617-281-8384.

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Representing more than 375,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

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