SOLDARITY IN ROSEBURG FOR MERCY NURSES & WIB
SOUTHERN OREGON JOBS WITH JUSTICE, 05.05.2007 12:43
"MERCY, GET USED TO IT YOUR WORKERS HAVE ORGANIZED. THEY AIN'T GOING AWAY
The fight you are making here in Roseburg represents what is best about the American Labor Movement and what is best about America. Standing up for yourselves. Standing up for your patients. Standing up for one another. Standing up for your families. Mercy Hospital ought to be proud of you."--Stwart Acuff, Organizing Director AFL-CIO
LABOR AND COMMUNITY UNITED TODAY IN ROSEBURG - One Hundred and Fifty People Stand with Mercy Nurses with strong solidarity for worker respect and a fair contract NOW!!! What a glorious occasion to see so many assemble to rally for the public good and the Mercy Hospital Nurses.
Over a dozen carpooled north from the Rogue Valley representing Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice and its affiliates.
Southern (Oregeon) hospitality played on out when a half dozen of our group from down south joined Women in Black for their weekly stand in Roseburg, Oregon. Twenty Five stood tall in a globally recognized way to silently call very steadily for peace. Solidarity for PEACE happened in Roseburg today, too.
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HERE IS A FIRST-HAND REPORT-BACK FROM ALLEN HALLMARK
Several of us traveled to Roseburg on Friday to attend two separate actions. One was a rally for the nurses of Mercy Medical Center, who voted more than a year ago to be represented by the Oregon Nurses Association. The hospital still has not agreed to a new contract with the nurses and negotiations are in mediation. The rally was held to nudge the hospital to do the right thing and agree to terms.
After that rally, we traveled across town to a busy highway where Women in Black stand every Friday at 12:30 pm. On either side of their brave black line there were groups of red-clad patriotic counter-protesters waving large US flags. Despite the competition, we got a considerable number of thumbs up and V signs from folks passing by in their cars and trucks and very little negativity.
After the silent vigil, Hal Anthony organized an IMPEACH photo op using some of the Rogue Valley contingent and some Roseburg folks to hold the letters that he and Loree Arthur made over lunch at the first rally. Good job, Hal and Loree! (see photo at bottom of photos)
Those from our group who went up to Roseburg included Hal, Loree, Ruth Dailey, Don & Heidi Monjure and Wes Brain. Beverly DeLeonardis, William Yeazel and Steve Ryan of Jobs with Justice were also there for the nurses rally. Steve was helping Wes film the event. There was also a contingent of nurses from Rogue Valley Medical Center.
--Allen
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