A Christmas Wish

On this Christmas Eve I wish you the peace of whatever holidays you and your family celebrate.
I will celebrate the birth of a brown skinned Jewish Palestinian homeless boy who was born to an unwed mother. He probably spoke Aramaic.
Shortly after his birth, he and his family were forced to immigrate and seek asylum in a foreign land because of fear for his life.

He would grow up to work with his hands as carpenter.
At age 30 he began traveling as an itinerant preacher.
He never had a mega church, he met people where they were.
He challenged his disciples to take nothing with them, but to rely on the good will of those they would meet.
He peached a gospel of love for all.
He refused to judge a woman caught in adultery.
He never judged someone based on the color of their skin, the language they spoke, the religion (or lack of) that they practiced, their country of origin, their immigration status, or their sexual identity or preferences.
He said we are all neighbors, all sisters and brothers.
He believed if we had two coats we should give one to the person who had none.
He said possessions should be given away if we wished to follow him.

His last lesson to us was to wash his disciples feet, a lasting reminder that those in positions of influence should serve others. (not the reverse)

His teachings seam a radical message in today’s world.
Apparently, it seemed somewhat radical back then too, because after 3 years of roaming and preaching, the authorities had him killed.

But his message did not die with him.
It lives on.
Yes, it has been corrupted countless times and used to justify many evil deeds, but the pureness of his message cannot be silenced, cannot die.
Even though at times it seems to be gone, a flicker has always survived.
A flicker that can come alive in the words or deeds of a good man or woman.
We often think of King, of Mandela, of Chavez, of Theresa, but even more important, it comes alive in the faces, in the smiles, and in the kind words and deeds of our friends.

You see, Jesus was never rich, never published, never attended university, never travelled far from home. He didn’t blog, or tweet, or post.
He spoke to people and he touched them, with his hands and his heart.
That is what Christmas is to me.
A celebration of that love between people.

It doesn’t matter if we believe he was the son of God, or even if we believe that God exists.
It matters that we celebrate his example.
And follow it.
Merry Christmas.

Protecting Healthcare for all

The ACA is not perfect, but it protects Americans with pre-existing conditions and has brought healthcare to millions of seniors, young people and economically disadvantaged people. 
It is the only thing that stands between working families and bankruptcy that can come with one illness. 

The court ruling by a federal judge in Texas must be overturned and we must continue to fight for quality affordable healthcare for all. 
We know the groups who have fought for this outcome for years. They are not the friends of workers, the young, the elderly, or the economically disadvantaged. 

Labor must, and will, continue to work with our community friends to stand up for ALL people. 
In Connecticut in particular, we must work with our Congressional delegation and our incoming governor, Attorney General, and General Assembly, to show that we in Connecticut stand with ALL people, not just the 1%.

Today is a great day to redidicate yourselves to that effort.

Thank you Ann, Thank you Bernie

Glad that Jan Hochadel and I were able to attend the HPAE retirement party for Ann Twomey and Bernie Gerard this week. 

Ann and Bernie’s contribution to the labor movement is nearly impossible to measure. 

They both played key roles in organizing their respective hospitals, in expanding HPAE, both in number of members and facilities represented and in influence in the state of New Jersey and the labor movement.  

Their leadership has established an HPAE culture based on the organizing model of unionism, stressing member and community engagement to build a voice for workers and the people we serve. 

On a personal note, they have each mentored me as I have moved from being a local nurse organizer, to local president, to state officer. Through example and advice, they have been true sister and brother to me.

They leave the HPAE in great hands with new president Debbie White and her leadership tam and AFT Connecticut looks forward to continuing the fight along side them.

A seat at the table

There is a saying in the Labor Movement, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”  

This past election CT AFL-CIO members knocked doors, made phone calls, wrote postcards, sent text, and spoke to colleges and neighbors. 

The result was the election of many of our endorsed candidates. 

This week, AFT CT prez Jan Hochadel was appointed to the Lamont Transition Team.

Also this week, after years of hard work by many people, including AFT Healthcare members, CT Representative Joe Courtney introduced a bill to protect Healthcare and Social Service workers from violence on the job.

Finally this week, Healthcare Workers at Rockville Hospital joined Rockville Nurses in voting overwhelmingly to unionize for a voice in the workplace. 

All of these are examples of member engagement leading to our voices being heard. 

As a result of the dedication and hard work of our members, we are at the table, where we deserve to be. 

We The People still believe

I’ve been reflecting on last Tuesday’s election and what it means.
Yes, I know, the “experts” will pull it apart and analyze it for me, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
I’m not talking about percentages, and tends, and the rest.  I’m talking about what it truly means.

A larger number of people registered and voted than we usually see in a mid-term.
But well before that, people became engaged.
Engaged in the women’s march, in protests against deportations an separations of families, in solidarity with people of other faiths after tragic events, etc.
Engaged in organizations such as Emerge Connecticut, CT Progressive Delegate Caucus, CT Working Families Party, Quite Conor Shouts, etc.
Engaged in a resurgent American Labor Movement.

That’s what I’ve been reflecting on.
I heard that the Republican candidate for CT governor said that they could not match our ground game.
Our people knocked doors, made phone calls, sent postcards, helped register new voters, help with rides to the poles.
It was our commitment to a cause that gave us the organizational ability to do this and it was our organizational ability that gave us the mechanism to get it done.

Jahana Hayes, our newest Congressperson from Connecticut has a way of putting it that I like.
“When you’re a teacher, you don’t pick and choose who you advocate for,” she said. “You don’t choose who comes to your class. You don’t ask kids, ‘Is your mom a Republican or a Democrat, because that’s how I’m gonna decide how hard I’m gonna work for you.
“They come to you and you have a responsibility to leave them better than when they came. I think that’s what government should be doing.”

We reject the notion that we need to pick winners and losers.
We reject the notion that we cannot have great public education, medical care for all, a kind and thoughtful immigration policy, a living wage for all.

On this day when we honor those who served to give us the continued right to be a Government Of the People, For the People, and By the People; I think this election means that We The People still believe.