Hundreds of workers who could not attend our founding convention shared their support for NUHW by sending comments through our web site, and we posted all of their comments on a wall for everyone to read at our Founding Convention.

These are just a few:

I can’t be at the convention but I support NUHW completely! Thank you for standing up for us as members and actually caring!
-Velvet Chamberlin, Stockton

This is a historic moment in the witness for workers’ rights and democracy. Union victories have never been easily won, but this is a battle worth fighting. Keep our union for the workers!
-Kathryn Kassem, Orchard MOB, Downey, CA

SEIU is so hypocritical. They have a page on their website to rally Union members to support the members’ right to vote yet they put us in Trusteeship and silence ours. If they’re not going to stop the manipulation, we need to distance ourselves from this kind of drama and start fresh with NUHW.
-Rosalie Espiritu-Foster, Stockton MSCC

In homecare, we are the poorest of the poor caring for the poorest of the disabled. How dare SEIU push us into a sub-par local where 80% of their members earn $9 an hour! We are barely getting by on $11.50 an hour in Sonoma county, I can’t imagine the wage we we will be earning once our contract expires in September and a clearly failing local of SEIU bargains our wages. I was once proud to be an SEIU member but now I am ashamed and afraid for my income. SEIU is now a “4-letter word”.
-Sean Haynes, Sonoma IHSS

Let us be strong and united in fighting for our rights from the SEIU Let us give our support to those of the NUHW who have given of their time, their talents, and their means, thus far, to bring this new union to fuiition. May we be able to elect those with honesty and integrity that will represent us as union members and will actively listen to our cause. Let us have our “VICTORY OF VOICE”!! Good Luck fellow union members. My VOICE is with you.
-Carolyn Morgan, Modesto Medical Offices

CPMC Nurses support NUHW!!
-Eileen Prendiville, California Pacific Medical Center

That NUHW continue to pledge to the rank in file to fight to improve the lives of our members and their families, contiune to make sure every member have a voice in decisions that affect them and our patients/ residents. Continue to ensure every member work in digity and respect and will not knowingly wrong a member or see a member wronged if it is in our power to prevent it.
-Brenda Washington, Grove Street Ext.Care & Living Center

KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!! We really do not need our employers being so excited about crawling into bed with an unwanted, dangerous and self centered union. NUHW is our choice no matter what CHW says.
-Lloyd Taylor, Marian Medical Center

The path of NUHW is not for the weak or faint of heart. It is won through due diligence, knowledge, action and the courage to stand up for your rights. Our path, Our vision, Our voice, Our Union
-Patricia Hardwick, Sonoma Co IHSS

Forward we go with NUHW. FORWARD EVER BACKWARD NEVER.
-CREIGHT FONTENELLE, USC UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

TO MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS OF N.U.H.W. THIS DAY SIGNAL’S THE LIGHT FOR THE FURURE. TO PASS ON TO OUR CHILDERN AND GRANDCHILDREN. IT’S OUR JOB TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. REMEMBER WE ARE THE TREE STANDING BY THE WATER. WE WILL NOT BE REMOVED!!!!
-Nancy Evans, Willow Pass Health Care Center

All success at you convention!
-Gunnar Lundeberg, Sailors’ Union of the Pacific

NUHW is giving SEIU the much needed “boot”. Unfortunately, we have to listen to all the lies being told to our members in the meantime. Finally a union that believes in true democracy!
-Sally Vetsch, Mercy Medical Center Redding

Brothers and Sisters, here’s to a new union, one that is responsive to its members, one that celebrates our skills and value as healthcare professionals, no matter what the setting - in home, rehab and convalescent care, clinics, hospitals. We will win a new union after all. Courage!
-Suzanne Novotny, O’Connor Hospital

Let’s protect the democratic process!
-Greg Yoder, Fresno

Keep fighting the Good fight “impeach” Andy Sterns trusteeship! He is trying to to void all the bargaing we have won, and fought for all these years. We don’t need a “King” we need our voice!!!
-Debbe Wallace, Roseville

Best wishes for a productive and energizing founding convention. You are doing something very important and powerful for the future of the U.S. labor movement. Keep up the fight!
-Barry Eidlin, University of California, Berkeley

I am so proud to join with all of you in founding NUHW. We are creating a union that will reflect the ethics and straight talk we all practice at work everyday. Know that we can depend on our fellow members to defend our rights, protect and care for our patients, and build a union where we can actively participate and promote. NUHW is better than the rest and will last.
-Barbara Escobar, Woodland Hills, CA

Our devotion to Healthcare is as important as our future. Our future is as important as anyones future. Let us care for ourselves and others.
-Kathy Fournier, Dominican Santa Cruz

I used be a proud union member. Today I am bitter, angry and frustrated being forced to remain a member under SEIU. SEIU has taken us places we don’t want to go. In this economy we cannot afford SEIU giving everything away? The time has come for us to take our union back. Together we have momentum for winning this fight. I truly believe the way to a brighter future is NUHW. Together let’s kick SEIU to the curb.
-Rhonda Smith, So. Sacramento

Congratulations NUHW members. You have shown great courage in your fight to form a democratic, rank and file union. You are an inspiration to all workers who struggle against their boss, and all workers who must fight for democracy within their own unions.
-Ben Albert

We refuse to let SEIU destroy what we worked so hard to accomplished. I have been with Kaiser for 20 years and seen our contract make history. I won’t be a part of the distruction of it. NUHW is my Union.
-Elizabeth Carter, Richmond

I wish healthcare workers all the best as they struggle to build a new, democratic union. Your work will have ripple effects throughout the world.
-Austin Lynch, Bellflower, CA

There comes an opportunity in everyone’s lifetime to do something significant for future generations - NOW is the time to truly bring a DEMOCRATIC UNION to fruition. To get this done, we will have to make sacrifices and put in the time and work needed to succeed.
-Charlotte Scipioni, Woodland Hills

I cannot afford to lose $2 per hour. It is impossible to keep up with basic requirements as it is. We all work hard, should we be penalized just because the State has control of our wages? The work we do is necessary and many will be forced to find other means if our wages are cut.
-Cecelia Weiss, Homecare

We do more than provide a Service! We want to improve the HEALTH & CARE of our Client/Patient…We belong in a Health Care Union!!!
-Tyrone Dickens, Homecare Consortium

I am one of the bargning team members at Mercy Mt. Shasta who was ousted from the position by SEIU. This has made me very sad because our job was to do the right thing for the employees of our facilities. We as NUHW members can still do this if we stand TALL and FIGHT for what’s right and fare for all. WE ARE THE UNION!! Remember, with out us their would be no Union.
-Michele Hanson, Mercy Mt. Shasta

I am appalled by outraged at the depth and breadth of corruption within SEIU. We MUST create a fair and honest union, one truly representative of our needs. Especially because I can not attend this convention, I deeply appreciate all the hard work and commitment by dedicated, smart people willing to give their time and talents to the NUHW. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
-Mary Kay Jenkins, Baldwin Park Medical Center, Baldwin Park CA

It will be a great day when we are no longer associated with SEIU. We all work hard for our money ——- and it is time for them to take their “hands out of our wallets” The mismanagement, corruptions, and plain stupidity of these union officials of the SEIU are not people I want running my union. Let us stay united and get this job done!!!
-Susan Blacketter, San Rafael

We’re looking forward to being members of NUHW at Compass. Since SEIU took over our workplace has been full of chaos, turmoil, division at a time in bargaining when we should be united - they sow seeds of mistrust. We need the leadership we trust, the leadership that helps build unity and power. NUHW!
-Kathleen Simas, Enloe Medical Center - Compass

I think that we are bullied around enough by congress and I don’t think that we should have to take being bully by a union that says that they are for their member, so far SEIU has only used scare tactics to frighten members. That’s why I am a for switch and vote for NUHW a union who is committed to backing their members.
-Carol Jaromay, Sandcreek

One day longer. One day stronger
-Helen York-Jones, CPMC