DNC in review

I couldn't speak the words to the National Anthem, something I had recited millions of times before.
But this time I was standing with the other delegates of the DNC and at that moment on day 1 of the convention, the enormity of the situation struck me, and I was choked up.
It was then that I realized I was really there, really going to be a part of history, really there the night the glass ceiling was shattered. And it was then that I realized it would be a week full of emotions.

The Mothers of the Movement who have lost sons and daughters to police shootings, the Police Chiefs who have lost peace officers to assassinations like in Dallas but have seen the community rally to their side. My own Senator Chis Murphy and others, including Representative Gabrialle Giffords, call out for reasonable gun control measures so that 20 first grades and their teachers need never die again as they did in Newtown, CT.
The salute to veterans and active duty and to the victims of 911.
The rousing speech of Rev Barber, the inspirational speech by Doloras Huerta of the United Farm Workers, the quiet story of Bill Clinton and the pride of Chelsea.
The eloquence of Michelle Obama and the conviction of Barack.
Vermont passing during roll call so that they could go last and Bernie could move the nomination of Hillary, one of the classiest moves we will ever experience in or out of politics.

And there were other, quieter moments.
Like sitting with Representative Jim Himes and discussing what it is like to be in a union and what it is like to be a democratic legislator from a conservative district and later sitting with Mrs Himes, in the middle of the convention, and discussing not politics, but life, and my growing up in Connecticut and her Canada, much as any two people would do had they met elsewhere.
Sitting with my Congressman, Joe Courtney, at breakfast and discussing his reelection, the second district, and having him introduce me the Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez.
Having a friend back home send me a copy of a text from his daughter, excited about serving Lt.Governor Nancy Wyman lunch at a local restaurant and telling Nancy about it.

Late night conversations back at the hotel over a nightcap or two and hearing the passion of the other delegates.
Being there when the glass ceiling was shattered with the nomination and acceptance speech of the first female nominee for president by a major party.

It was an amazing week. Our political system is not perfect. But WE THE PEOPLE have the ability and the responsibility to be involved and that is what makes it better, not sitting on the sidelines and complaining that we have no voice.

I cast my vote

It was an incredible honor to be able to able to cast a vote yesterday for the nomination of Hillary Clinton.
I officially cast that vote for the people of the second congressional district of Connecticut, but I cast it for so many more.
I cast it for my children and grandchildren.
I cast it for the generations yet to come.
I cast it for my ancestors, immigrants from Ireland.
I cast it for all immigrant people, whether they came in boats from Europe, in bondage from Africa, from our southern boarders, over the landmass from Asia, or elsewhere, because we are a country of immigrants.
I cast it for my Grandpa, RI State Senate Pro Tem James J Brady.
I cast it for my mom, my loving wife,my granddaughter, and all women, because the glass ceiling is being shattered and it is about time.
I cast it for my Union sisters and brothers and those not yet organized, because everyone deserves the right to Just Cause and Collective Bargaining.
I cast it for my LGBTQ friends, because love is love, and love trumps hate.
I cast it for the young Black Men of this country, because Black Lives do matter and all children are our children.
I cast it for those who serve in our military, our police, our firefighters and first responders, because you put your lives in harms way for our betterment.
I cast it for our teachers, paraprofessionals, school support staff, our public servants, our nurses and other healthcare workers, because you answer to a calling that comes from deep within.
I cast it for the laborers, the farmers, the fishermen, the office workers, because you build, you feed, you make happen.
I cast it for those suffering from addictions and mental illness, because their lives are precious.
I cast it for the children of Sandy Hook and Orlando, and so many others, victims of senseless gun violence.
I cast it because I believe America is great, and that she can be even greater.
Being on the floor on this historic night was incredible. I wish you could have all been there with me.
In a way, you were, in my heart.

President Bill Clinton said making the speeches is the easy part, but doing the everyday work is what makes one a Change Maker. I am surrounded in my life by Change Makers.
It was my honor to be able to cast a vote for you.

Report from the AFT Minneapolis Convention

I spent this week in Minneapolis at the AFT Convention the AFT Connecticut delegation.  Seven productive, enjoyable, and tiring days.

This was my first trip to Minneapolis and St Paul, both great cities. Many of the buildings have over the street walkways that connect them and that was appreciated with the very warm weather. We could walk from our hotel to the convention hall three blocks away without going outside.  I imagine they come in real handy in the winter.

There were lots of great places to eat or have a drink and relax with friends in the area and we also took a short ride to St Paul to check out a couple of places that were recommended to us. Some of the Connecticut delegation hopped the train and went out to the Mall of America, which they said was amazing. I wish I could have had even more time to spend with our members.  It was also great to see friends from all across the country.

We were well represented on the convention floor, with almost 100 delegates. Roger Woods won the Healthcare Everyday Hero award for his work at Danbury Hospital and across the country on Ebola and other infectious disease controls. Roger is known as the “nurse whisperer, because he uses hypnosis technics in his work to calm patients. He used it in his acceptance speech, speaking softly, and having everyone turn to their neighbor, touch them lightly on the shoulder, and tell them they were successful. It was pretty cool. 

Our delegates rose to speak on resolutions, including Lisa D’Abrosca and Harry Rodriguez, who are presidents of the L+M RN’s and Healthcare Workers, respectfully. Both rose to speak on the resolution for better controls on hospital mergers. Harry is an AFT CT VP and Lisa an AFT CT Divisional VP.

 

Hillary Clinton was inspirational in her speech as were Randi Weingarten, Mary Cathryn Ricker and Loretta Johnson, and many others. President Weingarten is a good chairperson, finding a way to efficiently attend to the business of the convention, while allowing those less familiar with Roberts Rules to participate while not feeling embarrassed.  She listened with grace and patience to the few who wished to speak against her.

She and her entire Progressive Caucus slate were elected with 98% of the vote, which brings me to my most exciting news coming out of Minneapolis, the election of AFT CT President Jan Hochadel as an AFT Vice President! 

She joins the AFT Executive Council, the governing body of the international. 

It is recognition by the delegates of her incredible leadership. 

Many talk the talk, some walk the walk, Jan not only walks the walk; she brings others along with her. 

AFT CT is lucky to have her and now so too is AFT

.

I also had an opportunity to practice my nursing skills, assisting in a couple of medical emergencies, including a trip to the local hospital.  Luckily, both patients recovered nicely.

Always lots of work to do after a convention and while my fellow officers will be back hard at work in Connecticut, I'm off to Philadelphia for the Democratic Convention where I will have the honor to vote for the next President of the United States on behalf of the democrats of Eastern Connecticut’s Second Congressional District.

If this is Saturday, this must be JFK

11:05 flight to Minneapolis, arriving at 1:15. 

Or not. 

Seems the plane has mechanical problems, so we are back in the terminal, awaiting repairs, and hoping against hope. 

Why oh God, WHY?

Then I realized. 

He probably has other things to think of than my travel plans. 

In fact, it reminds me of the story of the man in his house with rising flood waters. As he escaped to the roof of the house to escape the water, a boat came along. "Hop in and come to safety" they said. 

"No, God will take care of me he replied."

A helecopter came. "Climb up the rope to safety."  "No, God will takecare of me."

The water continued to rise and he drowned. 

In heaven, he asked God, "Why didn't you save me?"

God said, "I sent you a boat and a helecopter. What more did you want?"

Sometimes, we don't see God in the situation we are in. 

So,

With this delay,

I have had used the time to have a great conversation with some AFT teachers from New York. 

See you in Minneapolis. 

We have the truth

One after one they stepped up to the microphone in their suits.
I'm a employee of Yale or L+M, I work for a non-profit that Yale gives money to, Yale is great, L+M is great, we trust them, they will take care of us, they will look out for us, they wouldn't lie to us.
It was sickening to see what dirty money can buy.

Then they started walking up to the mic in Scrubs and Jeans.
I'm a nurse, I'm a tech, I work in housekeeping, I love my community hospital and have dedicated my life to it, but I don't trust them, I've seen how they locked us out, I've seen the salaries they get at the top, I've seen them cut services.
I work at Yale, don't believe them.

I live in the community, I'm worried what increased prices will do to my insurance costs, what decreased services will mean if we have to travel to New Haven.
I live in Windham, I know what happened to my community hospital when it was taken over, don't let it happen here.

The motivation of the first groups was clear, a paycheck, a donation.

The motivation of the second group was also clear, a love of patients, of community.

The room was packed, maybe 200 people.
A coalition of community, faith, and labor sitting to the left.
Yale to the right.
OCHA has the responsibility to decide.
Is this in the best intereest of the citizens?

This acquisition would give Yale 60% of the Connecticut healthcare market and a monopoly along the lower third of the state. 

Would they use this advantage for good, or evil?

Past experience of other healthcare system say evil. 

Past practices of Yale and L+M agree. 

So we took some punches from Yale last night, but we hit back strong. Round two is July 26. 

They have the money. We have the truth and a love for what we do and the community we serve and belong to. 

Bring it on Yale, we're ready. 

Save our Community Hospitals

Tomorrow evening (Monday 7/11), a coalition of community, faith, and labor groups will join together in New London to testify against the proposed acquisition of L+M Community Hospital by Yale.

Why has this group devoted so much time and energy into this cause?

We all feel an ethical responsibility to the people of the community and all the residents of the state of Connecticut, to preserve access to high quality, affordable health care.

The proposed acquisition would create a single entity that would control hospital and doctor practices along the bottom third of the state from the New York border into Rhode Island. It would control 60% of Connecticut healthcare.

 Our research and our experience have shown us that this would lead to an elimination of services and an increase in prices.

Unlike other monopolies, this monopoly would face very little community oversight or regulation.

The Connecticut General Assemble and the people of Connecticut recognize these concerns and have outlined them in a law that took effect on January 1 of this year. In fact, the governor has since placed a moratorium on further consolidation until a task force can study it.

Yale, however, circumvented this law by filing it's paper work at the eleventh hour, in December, just before the new law took effect. 

Elimination of services would force patients and families to travel to New Haven for care they now receive in New London and increases in prices would cause an increase in insurance premiums and place further stress on already vulnerable state, local and personnel budgets.

There may be times when these acquisitions are necessary, such as when a larger, more profitable hospital acquires a smaller, financially struggling hospital and can transfer capitol to the struggling hospital.

That is not the case here.

L+M is not a struggling hospital.  It posts a healthy, even robust profit. In fact, it is so financially healthy, it acquired Westerly Hospital a few years ago.  

The purpose of this acquisition is not to help a smaller struggling hospital, it is to achieve a greater market share to be able to negotiate higher compensation from insurance companies who themselves are trying to merge in an effort to better position themselves against such monopolistic hospital systems.

The loser in this arms race for market share strength is the community, through loss of local control, oversight and increased prices.

It is estimated that the increased cost to the State of Connecticut alone, through the effect on state employee healthcare plan, could be $1 million/year. That does not factor in the direct cost to local government plans or resident's plans.

One of the responsibilities of the labor movement is to stand up for all workers, unionized and non, and their families and communities.  We share this responsibility with community and faith groups.

That is why we will be at the state Certificate of Need Hearing at the Holiday Inn at 35 Governor Winthrop Boulevard in New London, starting at 3:00 pm until probably 10 pm.  

You can show your concern and support by coming for any part of it and sitting in the audience, or even better, speaking during public comments. You need not stay all night. 

If you cannot come, please call, email or write your elected leaders and express your concern, and during the upcoming political campaigns, question them and their campaign workers on how they feel about the loss of local control of healthcare to large monopolistic healthcare systems who reward their executives to the tune of millions of dollars a year at the expense of access to high quality, affordable, local healthcare.

WHY and WHEN?

Binghamton, Fort Hood, Blacksburg, Aurora, Newtown, San Bernadino, Orlando, Eric Gardner, Trayvon Martin, Fredie Gray, Micheal Brown, St Paul, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Black lives, White lives, Hispanic lives, Gay lives, Straight lives, Police lives, Civilian lives, Military lives, 6 year old lives, 30 year old lives, so many daily on our streets, in our homes, drugs, domestic abuse, suicide, wrong place wrong time.

So many lives.

WHY?

and WHEN do we do something?