Living United

It is not every day that Backus CEO Dave Whitehead and I agree, but when it comes to the United Way, we do.  

Local 5149 has held several food drives to support the Gemma E Moran United Way/Labor Food Center.  

Today Dave and I released a joint statement supporting the United Way annual drive.

The United Way helps countless people in their time of need. Organized Labor, Management, and the community all play a large role in it's support.

Please join me in helping our neighbors.

Please read the joint statement below from Backus President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Whitehead and Union President John Brady, RN, encouraging participation in the 2013 United Way campaign.

Improving the health and quality of life of our community takes more than just one hospital or social service agency. That is why Backus leadership and the Backus Federation of Nurses jointly endorse the annual United Way campaign, and we highly encourage all Backus employees to participate at the level that they are able.

United Way believes in advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. That makes United Way a partner in the Backus mission — improving our region’s health. Together with United Way, we can create better community wellness, help children thrive, meet basic human needs and promote independence.

Please support the 2013 campaign by filling out a pledge form and returning it to Mary Brown in Volunteer and Guest Services. If you need a form you can get one by stopping by the volunteer office or emailing her atmebrown@wwbh.org

Again, thank you for helping make southeastern Connecticut a better – and healthier – place. Your generosity is crucial to making this year’s United Way campaign a success.

All politics is local

Tip O'Neil coined the phase "All politics is local."
It means a politician's success is directly tied to his ability to understand and influence the issues of his constituents. Politicians must appeal to the everyday concerns of those who elect them into office. 

It's important to remember this principle in this age when it seams a small group of people with a large amount of money, can so influence our politicians, that they go against what they know to be best for their constituents and the country and shut down the government.

Politicians are so worried about being challenged within their own political party, in a primary, that they fear doing what they know is right.

However, we should not despair.  These small groups may have all the money, but we, the people, have all the votes. 
Most elections are determined by the smallest of margins.  Voter apathy is understandable, but it is our downfall.
If more like minded people registered and voted, entire elections could be swung.  

Consider this.
In 2006 Joe Courtney defeated Rob Simmons for Connecticut's 2nd district congressional race by 94 votes.
94 votes.
There are 715,000 residents and 433,699 registered voters in the district.
242,360 people voted.
Had Simmons registered another 95 supporters, or had another 95 Simmons registered supporters voted, the outcome would have reversed.
Town and city races are determined on even less votes.

Our goal then, must be to increase the number of registered voters and convince them that not only does their vote matter, it is the only thing standing between democracy and our country being totally control by the very few and the very rich.

Chicago

I am on the plane returning from Chicago and the AFT Small Locals Task Force. 18 Local presidents from around the country have come together, at the direction of AFT president Randi Weingarten, to identify and suggest solutions to problems unique to Locals of 600 or fewer members. We met in Washington in August and identified areas of high concern. This weekend, we discussed possible solutions. We will meet in January to develop suggestions for the AFT Executive Board. The board will use those suggestions to develop policy and present our findings at the AFT Convention next July. 

It is an honor to serve on such a select task force. We have presidents from all around the country, from locals larger and smaller than mine. We have teachers, para professionals, higher ed, public service and health care. Some have been in Local leadership for 25 years and some a few months. Most are involved at their state federation level as executive board, council, or committee members. 

I hope that I bring something to the table in that I represent health care and newly organized Locals. 

I also hope that we can help AFT better serve small Locals, which make up 3000 of the 3400 AFT Locals. 

Bedsides being an honor, serving on this task force is a learning opportunity and a chance to network, with leaders from around the country, AFT Washington staff, and AFT leadership. President Randi Weingarten has spoken to us by phone and AFT Executive VP, Francine Lawrence, has been at both meetings.  The opportunity to have a relationship with leaders and staff members at this level, to be on a first name basis, to have Francine greet me with, "How are you John? How are things in Connecticut?", or to have Lynne Mingarelli, Deputy Director of Research and Statigic Initiatives, kiddingly ask, "Have we got things straightened out at L+M yet?" is invaluable, and somewhat unique for the leadership of a small Local. (By the way, the Washington staff now have "I am L+M" buttons.)

It is also testimony to the respect the Backus nurses hold with our state federation leadership, who recommended me. 

There is much good work to be done and the involvement of the 3000 smalls Locals is crucial to that work. 

(Tea) Party's over, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

"You've reached the United States Government, we can't come to the phone right now, we're having a tea party."

What do you call a group of people who conspire to shut down the government?
Terrorists?
Here in the US, we call them the Tea Party!

Don't blame the Republicans, they're being held hostage too.

The latest threat is over Obamacare.
Or is it?

Is the Tea Party really against Americans having affordable health care?  Against 18-26 year olds having insurance? Against seniors being able to afford both medicine and food?  Against low paid, hard working Americans who have no insurance through work, getting the opportunity to purchase it at affordable rates on the open market?

Who could be against that?

I think it's all a diversion.  I think they have one goal.
Shutting down OUR government.

I haven't figured out why yet, but then again, how does one understand the logic of a terrorist?
I do think that we must all band together, Democrats, Republicans, Green Party, Libertarians, Independents, and everybody else, to tell them that the Tea Party is over, we're taking our country back!

This is the greatest country in the world.  We've faced terrorist before and we'll face them again.  We must recognise them for what they are, and face them together.
We must say to them, "This is my country, my government, and it is open for business, and will not be held hostage.  You have the right to disagree, and I will defend that right to the death, but you do not have the right to shut us down.  This is the United States Government, "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country."

"Press one, but there are no other options."

I met WHO?

I started this unionist work to be a part of a movement to improve things at the hospital and as a result, I have been invited into coworker's living rooms and lives, I have developed wonderful friendships, and I have traveled  places, and met people, that I would have never imagined.
I have been to Washington several times, Baltimore, and will soon be in Chicago and San Diego.
I have met the Governor and our US and State Senators and Representative several times, all kinds of Organized Labor Giants and Community Leaders.
I have spoken before National Labor Relations Board and the AFL-CIO in Washington, at State AFT and AFL-CIO Conventions and to the National Federation of Nurses.

Sometimes I feel like maybe I've been mistaken for someone else.

All that being said, I was not expecting what came yesterday.
I have been at the Connecticut AFL-CIO Convention the last three days and often, President John Olsen, himself a labor giant, will pause to recognize someone in the hall.  So yesterday, he paused, recognized Ted Kennedy, and mentioned that he would say a few words at the upcoming fundraising reception for the United Labor Agency, which meets the human service needs of workers and their families.
I thought, "boy he's got a famous name."

Shortly after that, I was standing at the reception with AFT CT President Melodie Peters and VP Steve McKeever, when this Ted Kennedy came by to say hello.
Melodie asked him, "Do you know John Brady, he represents the registered nurses of Backus Hospital?"
"Nice to meet you John," he said, we shook hands and he asked about the hospital and who we represent both at Backus and elsewhere.
We spoke for several minutes, then he moved on to speak with others.

I made some silly comment to Melodie and Steve about famous names, because one of my sons is named Tom Brady.

When it came time for Ted Kennedy to speak, John Olsen spoke about his family and I suddenly realized.
I MET TED KENNEDY Jr!
THE Ted Kennedy!

You have to understand, going up in an Irish Catholic family in the 60s, the Church hierarchy was Jesus, the Pope, and the Kennedys, and not necessarily in that order.

I was so excited that I called my wife who said, "That's nice, hey, could you go to Stop and Shop on the way home?"

I represent the greatest group of people in the world, people who give their heart and soul every day in the care of others.
As a result, it has opened up a world of new experiences, but my better half has a way of reminding me of my place.
It's the place of all of us really.
Me, you, or a Kennedy, our place is to be of service to each other.