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On October 26th
hundreds of Unit 7 members and their supporters
went to the
State House
in Boston to say to Governor Romney and Lt. Governor
Healey, "849 Days is Enough, Now Is The Time
To Settle The Contract For Those Who Care For The State’s
Most Vulnerable." |
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They walked or
took the T. |
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| After the Picket Line Unit
7 had a rally. Our friends in the legislature came
out to voice support. |
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Long time supporter and friend of all
Massachusetts nurses, State Senator Mark Pacheco of
Taunton was the first speaker. |
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First term State
Senator Ed Augustus of Worcester walked the line
and then promised support
for Unit 7 members.s |
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| Representative Peter Koutoujian of Waltham, Chairman
of the Joint Committee on Public Health told us the
Governor was out of touch, of just out of state, and
promised support. |
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| Unit 7 President Bill Fyfe
of Taunton State Hospital filled in the crowd on the
history and talked about the harm coming to the patients
due to the stalled talks. Fyfe also complimented the
crowd on the large turnout and their spirit. |
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| Kathy Evlog,
RN, long time of the Chelsea Soldiers Home spoke
of the negative
effect of the contract negotiations have had on the
Veterans who are cared for at the Home. |
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According to Steve Robins a Physical
Therapist at Shattuck State Hospital the ability to
retain and recruit experienced staff has made for very
difficult time for both the patients and staff at the
states largest Public Health hospital. |
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| RN Karen Coughlin of Taunton
State Hospital spoke about the dangerous situations
that have been created due to the lack of a contract
and that after 849 days it is the patients who suffer. |
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Mike D’Intinosanto
RN, and Vice Chair of Unit 7 talked about the negative
effects on
the patients at the Department of Mental Retardation
facility at Templeton. |
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| After the rally the group decided somewhat spontaneously
to go into the building and see Governor Romney. |
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| To no ones surprise the governor,
who was in the building, refused to meet with the
Unit 7 members.
Instead he sent a young man out to tell President Fyfe
that he would have to "go through the process" to
set up a meeting. The members spent about 20 minutes
serenading the Governor with chants. |
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| All in all everything felt it was a very successful
day. Now it is time to go back to their units around
the state and start planning leafleting and picketing
at their state facilities across the commonwealth. |
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