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

On March 22, 2001, 1199 launched a program to assist union members and their families to obtain citizenship. The program was jointly administered by 1199’s Benefit and Pension Fund and its Training and Upgrading Funds.

1199SEIU President George Gresham released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden’s signing of the American Rescue Plan:

Last week, I received my first vaccination at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. (And I feel great.) 1199ers at Interfaith have been doing incredible work throughout this vaccination effort. Central Brooklyn was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and it was wonderful to see Interfaith caregivers, who have given so much, working to restore the health and wellbeing of thousands of Brooklynites. Interfaith 1199ers and hundreds of thousands of caregivers like them have been playing central roles in vaccine rollout programs that protect our communities.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, adding a third vaccine to those available in the United States. All three vaccines have been approved by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). An EUA makes the vaccine available for public health emergencies with continued use if people benefit from it.

“Reports that the State Department of Health is planning to dramatically cut health care services in one of the hardest hit areas of New York City are deeply disturbing.

On Friday, February 19th we welcomed nearly 6,000 Personal Assistants (PAs) at Concepts of Independence into the 1199SEIU family -- the largest group to join our Union in the last decade.

The Bread and Roses Gallery, also known as Gallery 1199, often served as a venue for the Union’s African American History Month programs. Just as the auditorium’s stage provided a platform for speakers and performing artists, the Gallery played a similar role for graphic artists and multi-media exhibits.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, I am happy to report that I will be receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn. I’m relieved and grateful that I will be protected from COVID-19. It has been very painful to watch so many seniors (and their families) in our communities be affected by this deadly virus. What’s as concerning is the number of seniors and retired people I’ve spoken with don’t want to take the vaccine. They have been frightened by lies and misinformation.

COVID-19 shines a light on the critical, behind-the-scenes role of laboratory workers in patient care. 1199SEIU represents laboratory workers at Northwell Health’s Plainview Hospital on Long Island’s North Shore. The 219-bed community hospital serves residents of Nassau County, which, by early February had a total of 130,933 COVID-19 cases. At Plainview, as at all hospitals, lab workers are integral in diagnosing and treating COVID- 19. The virus continues illuminate the role of so many unseen healthcare heroes and the critical role in healing the sick and moving the nation past the pandemic.

Our 2021 legislative agenda reflects both immediate worker protections, like Emergency Paid Sick Time and longer-term solutions to ensure the healthcare workforce have a voice in care delivery, greater protections from pandemics and other emergencies, and necessary industry oversight to ensure quality care.