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SEIU Members Unite to Rally for Quality Care

Cheering in front of CapitolFebruary 28, 2008

Over 650 health care and child care providers from SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana came together in Springfield to rally for quality care and pass a critical hospital funding bill. The event was the first action taken by the newly formed 90,000-member union representing hospital, long-term care and child care workers and marks our first big win as a new union.

healthcare worker Cassandra McKnight
We work hard to make sure our patients get the quality care they deserve. But our hospitals often don’t have needed resources. When community hospitals shut down, our public hospitals have to pick up the slack. All too often, they face the same problem, short of staff and resources. We’re not just fighting for ourselves, we’re fighting for our patients and our communities.

Cassandra McKnight
Schwab Rehabilitation,
Mt. Sinai Hosptial
Chicago



Members rallied in support of our Agenda for Quality Care, which includes:

  • Protecting our “safety-net” hospitals. SB 1863 would release Medicaid money to private hospitals that serve low-income and uninsured families in Cook County.
  • Fully funding quality long-term care services for seniors and people with disabilities.
  • Improving wages and benefits for caregivers.
  • Expanding access to quality care and early education for Illinois’ children.

“If these hospitals close their doors, it will mean that too many families will lose their health care safety net. It will mean no nearby ER, in the event of an emergency. It will mean our public hospitals-- which are already overburdened by huge numbers of patients in need will be taxed even more,” said Byron Hobbs, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana.

Eighteen elected officials rallied with us to show their support for quality care and quality jobs. After the rally, members spoke one-on-one with members of the Illinois House and Senate about our top priorities for this year.

Following the event, the senate passed SB 1863 with a vote of 51-0. The victory is not only an encouraging success as the first action of our new union, but also a critical win for working families in Illinois.