Statement of Milly Silva, Executive Vice President, on Supreme Court DAPA/DACA decision

Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East—the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida—have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract negotiated with HCA hospitals throughout the state. The contract secures across the board raises and other benefits for nurses and other staff who have served on the front lines of the COVID-19 public health crisis.

I’ll be honest: There have been more than a few moments during the pandemic where I wasn’t sure we’d ever be able to hug our loved ones again. I’d look at my residents, wondering if they’d ever be able to hold hands with a family member or coo over a grandchild. Even as I was reassuring them, I wasn’t sure if real life wasn’t now forever on the other side of a window or behind a FaceTime screen. I’d smile and quietly hide my tears as family members held signs outside and pressed their palms to the windows of our institution.

The Local 1199 Benefit Plan was formed in 1945, and its goal was to provide basic health, disability and life insurance benefits to just 300 New York City retail drugstore workers with employer-paid contributions. In 1948, the Benefit Fund became self-insured and self administered.

The majority of residents in the United States are fully vaccinated, and nearly 70 percent of adults have taken at least one dose of the vaccine. At the same time, the federal government and many state and local governments have relaxed restrictions. The fully vaccinated have been able to return to seeing loved ones and living their lives nearly the same as before the pandemic.

We are now accepting applications for the Winter/Spring 2022 semester until October 15th and offering the following courses.

The residents, caregivers and all of their families at Livingston Hills Nursing Home have been on a dangerous rollercoaster ride of uncertainty for years. Often on the brink of closure due to short-staffing and non-payment to vendors, especially the fund that provides health benefits for the workers, every effort to sell the distressed skilled nursing home has fallen apart.

Last month marked the 40th anniversary of the first description of AIDS. To date, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has resulted in over 75 million infections and 33 million deaths.

In 1199’s storied history, its victory against the Whelan Stores Corporation counts as one of its most dramatic. At the time, the small but scrappy local of just 5,000 members was hailed for taking on a national drugstore chain. After a bitter fourth strike against Whelan’s in 1953, the workers won a groundbreaking forty-hour, five-day-a-week contract.

The 450,000 healthcare workers of 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, are saddened and outraged by the recent assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. We wish his widow, Haiti’s First Lady Martine Moïse, a speedy recovery and send our deepest condolences to the Moïse family and all of Haiti. 1199SEIU stands with the people of Haiti and with the thousands of Haitian members in our Union.

This #PrideMonth, we’d like you to meet 1199er Tierra Roberts, her wife Mykia Wright, and their 4 beautiful children – Jaylen, Liam, Kylie, and Karman.