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I know that I speak for the entire 1199SEIU family when I say that we have never in our lifetimes faced a challenge like we’ve faced these past 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

The COVID vaccines available in the U.S. are safe and effective. When the vaccines first came out early in the year, many people were concerned about side effects. But now we know so much more. There are over 150 million in the U.S. alone who have gotten the vaccine without any problems. Some, like myself, had a mildly sore arm for a couple of hours after the shot but serious side effects are extremely rare—much less common than for common medications like antibiotics or even aspirin. Read More

For more than 18 months, healthcare workers have led America through the COVID-19 pandemic. First, in March 2020, during the darkest days of the onset, the faces of weary caregivers lit the way to hope and to a time after the pandemic. And as the country fell into lockdown silence, it was the steady but exhausted, voices of healthcare workers that reminded us there was a way forward. And again now, as the delta variant rages among the unvaccinated and hospital beds are filling up and stretching caregivers to the breaking point, it is our healthcare workers who are doing the work of education, connection, and community building to help reduce vaccine hesitance and save lives. Read More

COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Read More

Western New York home care workers and families hosted a roundtable discussion with Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) to share the challenges facing those caring for seniors and people with disabilities. Together they are pushing for robust federal investments in America’s care economy. Read More

Who: Congressman Brian Higgins Peter De Jesus Jr, President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation Robert Weintraub, a local resident who relies on home care for his family Linda Wilson, a local home care worker & member of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers Read More

As a South Florida nursing home worker and a proud union member, it’s hard for me to believe this Labor Day that we’re still struggling so desperately with the COVID-19 pandemic. For almost two full years now, we’ve been on the front lines of this health crisis that is surging again and has claimed the lives of more than 44,000 Floridians. Read More

HOLLYWOOD, FL----To help protect the community against the COVID-19 virus, the ‘healthcare heroes’ of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East teamed with Broward County officials and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church for a free vaccination event that was held on Wednesday, September 1. Coordinated by 1199SEIU caregivers and Broward County Mayor Steven Geller, the vaccine was administered by Broward County Health Department staff. The event targeted Hollywood-area residents but it was also open to anyone. Read More

On Aug. 23 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had granted full approval of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for people 16 years and older. The drug will be marketed under the name Comirnaty, the FDA said in its announcement. Of the more than 170 million people in the U.S. vaccinated against COVID-19, 92 million have received the Pfizer vaccine. Read More

Micki Grant, who died on Aug. 21 at age 92, was the first woman to write the book, music and lyrics of a Broadway musical, “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope.” She was also the first women to win a Grammy for a Broadway score. In 1972, Grant won New York Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critic Circle awards. Read More

From the start of the pandemic early last year, we and other health-care workers across the state sacrificed our health — and risked our lives — to care for nearly 2.25 million New Yorkers who contracted COVID-19 statewide and to tend to the more than 53,000 who died. More than 1 million of those cases were in New York City, which logged nearly 38,000 deaths. Read More

ROCHESTER, NY — Home care workers and consumers will rally in support of President Biden’s Home Care Proposal, calling on Congress to sign on to the Better Care Better Jobs Act to expand access to urgently-needed care services and create good living-wage and union jobs for care workers. Care workers will hold a press conference and banner drop calling on Congress to "Respect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us!" Read More

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While President Biden's “soft infrastructure bills” are one of the most critical issues being debated in Washington, DC this summer, on Wednesday in Albany, New York, 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers in the country, hosted a virtual round table discussion on The Better Care, Better Jobs Act. The conversation focused on the provisions of the Act that would invest funds in the homecare industry by: Read More

The delta variant is creating a surge of new COVID-19 cases across the country, particularly in states and regions where fewer people are vaccinated. The variant now accounts for over 82 percent of all new cases. Read More

Negotiations for a new union contract covering more than 2,000 service workers represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East and SEIU Local 200United at Strong Memorial Hospital and University of Rochester began today. The current collective bargaining agreement between the unions and the hospital is set to expire September 11. Read More

“1199SEIU mourns the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. We send our deepest condolences to his loved ones. President Trumka was a third generation mine worker who dedicated his life to the labor movement. We honor him and his lifelong fight for dignity and respect for all working people. Read More

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people vaccinated against the coronavirus resume wearing masks in schools and in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging. Read More

New York, NY – 1199SEIU President George Gresham today released the following statement: Read More

One week after New York City’s ticker-tape parade to show appreciation for front-line workers, home care workers rallied in front of City Hall for better wages to reflect the sacrifices they say they make every day. They were calling on Congress to pass the Better Care, Better Jobs Act and to remind everyone that home care is essential. The bill would invest funds into the home care industry, prioritizing wage and benefit increases for caregivers. Read More