Workers at two Planned Parenthood clinics on Long Island have joined forces with 1199SEIU United Heathcare Workers East, the largest healthcare union in New York.
The move comes as the staff at the Hempstead and Massapequa clinics of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) sought representation from 1199SEIU amidst growing concerns over reproductive rights, especially as 2022’s landmark Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson erased national protections for abortions and threw it back to the states.
“Forming our union gives us a stronger voice to advocate for what we need to do our jobs, especially as we get more responsibilities,” Erica DeLeon, a registered nurse at Planned Parenthood, emphasized the significance of the union, said. “1199SEIU empowers us to better show up for our coworkers and the people and communities we serve.”
By aligning with 1199SEIU, the workers aim to ensure that their voices are heard in advancing Planned Parenthood’s mission.
“I am excited to join 1199SEIU because it’s important that we have support to help our patients,” Angie Pichardo, who has worked as a patient care associate for eight years at Planned Parenthood, said.
On April 16, 45 Planned Parenthood workers, including nurse practitioners, patient care associates, and registered nurses, secured certification of their union, marking a significant milestone in their collective journey. The Nassau County staff now joins nearly a thousand Planned Parenthood workers across New York, Maine, Washington, D.C., and Colorado who are already members of 1199SEIU.
1199SEIU, with more than 450,000 members across New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C., is a staunch advocate for quality care and fair labor practices.
Most recently, the Press covered 1199SEIU’s strike at Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Woodbury, when a change in the home’s leadership led to contract-related turmoil among the workers.
