SEIU rally in SF....more about Dean and the healthcare workers. Picture.

[madfloridian]

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/1721539.php

October 28th 2005

On a brisk October afternoon, rain drizzled down slowly on the California Pacific Medical Center: Pacific Campus. Media vans rushed to get into position, setting up camera crews while navigating the metal gates set up by San Francisco’s Finest. Gathered together were members of the Service Employees International Union and United Healthcare Workers; a sea of purple and yellow chanted in unison for a new union contract. They waved signs which said: “United for Quality Healthcare at Sutter”, “Sutter: Unfair to Patients” and “Just Say YES to Federal Mediator”. SEIU, which happens to be nation’s largest union of health care & long-term care workers, rallied support to their cause with an appearance by the chair of the Democratic National Committee, former Presidential candidate Howard Dean.

Dean took command of the event as soon as he appeared, crowds began to swarm to him with flashbulbs following suit. Dean described how many different union districts came out to the day’s rally, is a reflection of the roots of the American Labor Movement and the Democratic Party. He said he is proud of SCIU for standing up in this struggle with CPMC because the union is “asking that Sutter recognize what the Board (of Directors) wanted to do, say Yes to a new contract.” Forming a union and exercising their rights is something that comes slow and steadily, as Dean put it ”One day longer, one day stronger”. Working as a physician before stepping into politics, Dean recalled his memories and experience in the medical field, telling the crowd that “I know how hard it is in hospitals, you will be paid what you are worth”. As he stepped down from the podium, the local news teams moved in quickly to get some footage of Dean as he stopped to shake hands with union members."

I am 100% in agreement with him that it is only because of unions that our country has a middle class that is strong. If we don't stand behind them, we will lose that middle class...in fact we almost have.