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Health Care Workers Council members know that we can better achieve our collective goals when we all work together. Here are some solidarity actions that USW health care units utilized during first-contract campaigns:

The RNs and social workers from Gracedale Nursing Home of Northampton County, Local Union 2599, Lehigh Valley, Pa., participated in the Steelworkers Heritage Festival this summer. They sponsored a booth that offered free blood pressure screenings to festival attendees. Participants were able to have their blood pressures taken by the RN members while receiving patient wellness education by both RNs and social workers. During that time, the community was also educated on the unit’s efforts to attain a fair and equitable first contract from Northampton County executives. The unit ratified their very first contract in September 2004.

Workers presenting community support petition to Sister Joanne (Chairman of the Board for St. Mary's Hospital.

Judy Barron and Lisa Berger at the Steelworkers' Heritage Festival

Service and support personnel from St. Mary’s Hospital, Local Union 9899, Saginaw, Mich., promoted solidarity and raised community awareness during their first contract campaign efforts this fall. Contract Action Team members circulated petitions throughout the hospital, and among their families and community members, asking for support for their attempts to spur good faith negotiating at the bargaining table and asking for a halt to management’s delay tactics. In less than a week, the employees had over 800 signatures of support.

Another popular solidarity activity that Local 9899 members participated in was "Brown Bag Days." On selected days each month, members decided to inundate the cafeteria at noon with brown lunch bags. Many members chose to carry their lunch from home those days, while others who purchased their meals from the cafeteria, also set their "brown bags" up on their trays nearby. The visual effect was dramatic – especially noted were those members who decorated their lunch bags with USW stickers and "Contract Now!" slogans.

Festival attendee receiving blood pressure screening