This is great and exemplary! The kind of motion that could be widely put
forward at union meetings. Can we publicize yet?
On Tue, Feb 7, 2017 at 8:05 AM, S_ AN <s_an@xxxxxxx> wrote:
* To: CSEW list We scored an important victory last night. **Below is a
motion that was passed at the membership meeting of DC 37 Local 768 (New
York City Health Services Employees). *
*Approximately 60 members of the local attended last night's meeting. **The
motion was proposed and put forward by Irina. (The local president added
the first "Whereas"; the rest of the motion as approved is exactly what
Irina put forward.) **The motion passed unanimously, and the members
present cheered. **Irina is working on tracking down further information
on parts of the NYC Hospitals + Health system where moves against
undocumented immigrant have already been undertaken according to people at
the meeting. She has also started working on putting together the committee
referred to in point 4 of the motion. **The motion is supposed to be put
on Local 768's web site soon. *
** * **
WHEREAS, the crisis of the undocumented in the United States has deep
roots in a system of oppression and colonialism in which the U.S. played a
major role; and
WHEREAS, some Local 768 members have reportedly been given unacceptable
instructions to decrease the population of undocumented immigrants in their
facilities by 40%; and
WHEREAS, Local 768 members, like health care providers and other workers,
have grave concerns over threats to this desperately needed safety net
coverage; and
WHEREAS, Local 768 believes we have a basic ethical obligation to defend
undocumented immigrants in need of health care from round-ups, jail and
deportation by ICE; and
WHEREAS, any attempt to have Local 768 members identify patients for such
discriminatory treatment would violate not only our professional
obligations but NYC law and NYC Health + Hospitals’ stated policy; and
WHEREAS, this situation is made even more urgent by Trump's attacks on
"sanctuary cities" and NYC regulations limiting cooperation with federal
immigration authorities; and
WHEREAS, we join with NYC-area building-service, education, Teamster,
construction trades and other unionists in standing up for the rights of us
all in opposition to attacks on our Muslim and immigrant sisters and
brothers; and
WHEREAS, solidarity is a matter of life or death for labor under attack by
anti-union “right to work” legislation and court cases (Friedrichs);
therefore be it
RESOLVED, that Local 768 formally and publicly state the following:
1) We will continue to serve all those in need and oppose any attempt to
use immigration status against them, or to collect such information.
2) We will not go along with demands to cut care to undocumented patients,
which would violate our most basic ethical responsibilities.
3) We also reject any attempt to undermine the federally mandated right to
treatment of all those seeking emergency care.
4) Local 768 will establish a committee to defend the rights of immigrant
patients, families and staff.
5) We advocate that the unions of the NYC metropolitan area come together
in a massive protest showing the power of labor to stand up against any and
all anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and other racist attacks in line with the
labor motto, “AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL.”
Submitted by Irina Langman, Jacobi Hospital
(My email: irinalangman@xxxxxxxxx)
5 February 2017
*Labor donated*
