MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Mindy Berman | 518.229.0486

Members of 1199SEIU Say That Being Called Heroes Isn’t Serious Recognition Of Their Sacrifices During The COVID-19 Pandemic

WHAT: After more than three months of facing enormous pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Westchester Medical Center’s (WMC) refusal to hear their outcry, 1199SEIU healthcare workers are picketing today. They are demanding to be recognized with compensation in the form of bonuses, rewards or enhanced pay. For months, while other healthcare providers in the region and across the state have provided their frontline staff with some form of recognition pay for the risks they are enduring, WMC has consistently rejected all proposals that would address the issue.

The pickets will follow all public health laws that have been instituted during the pandemic. All participants will be wearing masks and will be standing at least 6 ft to 10 ft apart. **Photo opportunities and interviews will be available at each site, however, under the circumstances of the pandemic and social distancing rules, it may not be possible to interview the participants face to face. 1199SEIU will arrange phone/Zoom/etc. interviews by request, either before or after the picket. (518.229.0486 )

Location and Time:

• Westchester Medical Center
Noon - 2 pm, Valhalla Campus, across the street from WMC Building & Circle Area

• Good Samaritan Hospital
Noon – 3 pm, Suffern, Route 59

• Bon Secours Community Hospital
11 a.m. – 3 pm, Port Jervis, Main Street

• MidHudson Regional Hospital
Noon – 4 pm, Poughkeepsie, down the hill from ER

• HealthAlliance Hospital
Noon – 4 pm, Kingston, Broadway

Care and services will not be interrupted during the picket. Participants will be on the line on their own time; a break or their time off.

**SPECIAL NOTICE: Between noon and 12:30 pm, 1199SEIU members at each site will put down their pickets signs and participate in a nationwide eight minute and 46 second vigil to memorialize George Floyd, whose murder by Minneapolis police was caught on videotape that stunned many millions of Americans in New York and around the world. 1199SEIU members across the East coast, as well as NY workers represented by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1 will hold similar lunchtime actions.

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 450,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all. For more information: http://www.1199seiu.org/ Please check out https://1199onthefrontlines.org/