On January 18, nearly 200 Massachusetts members united in-person and virtually for a statewide 1199 delegate and leader assembly. They came together to celebrate recent victories, identify and prioritize the challenges they face and to develop a shared vision for 2023. Together, the delegates created action plans to build the union in each of their workplaces and approved policy priorities to tackle low wages and inadequate staffing across the board.

The keynote speaker was Michael Curry, the CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers, serving over one million patients out of over 314 practice sites throughout the state. He also serves on the Health Equity Compact, of which 1199SEIU is a member, that aims to combat racial and ethnic disparities in Massachusetts laid bare by the pandemic.

His speech to the assembly emphasized that equity and justice must be central to all healthcare decisions.

1199 Magazine: Jan-Feb 2023