United Nurses and Allied Professionals

United Nurses and Allied Professionals is a labor union representing over 7,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other healthcare professionals in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other parts of New England. The union is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the AFL-CIO. United Nurses and Allied Professionals works to improve the working conditions, wages, and benefits of its members, while also advocating for high-quality patient care at hospitals and healthcare facilities such as Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, and Kent Hospital. The union's efforts are often supported by other labor organizations, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the National Nurses United.

● History

The history of United Nurses and Allied Professionals dates back to the early 1990s, when a group of nurses at Rhode Island Hospital formed a union to address concerns about patient care, staffing, and working conditions. The union quickly grew to include nurses and other healthcare professionals from other hospitals and facilities, including The Miriam Hospital and Kent Hospital. Over the years, the union has been involved in numerous labor disputes and strike actions, including a notable strike at Rhode Island Hospital in 2002, which was supported by the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The union has also worked with other organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN), to advocate for nursing professionals and improve patient care.

● Organization

United Nurses and Allied Professionals is a democratic organization, with a leadership structure that includes a president, vice president, and board of directors. The union is divided into local chapters, each representing a specific hospital or healthcare facility, such as Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. The union's leadership includes experienced nurses and healthcare professionals, such as Jean Ross, a former president of National Nurses United, and Deborah Burger, a former president of the California Nurses Association (CNA). The union's staff includes experienced organizers, negotiators, and communications specialists, who work to support the union's members and advance its goals, often in collaboration with other labor organizations, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the United Auto Workers (UAW).

● Membership

United Nurses and Allied Professionals has a diverse membership of over 7,000 nurses and healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other healthcare workers, such as certified nursing assistants and medical laboratory technicians. The union's members work at hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other parts of New England, including Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, and Kent Hospital. The union's membership includes nurses and healthcare professionals from a variety of specialties, including critical care, pediatric nursing, and oncology nursing, and often collaborates with other professional organizations, such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

● Collective Bargaining

United Nurses and Allied Professionals engages in collective bargaining with hospital and healthcare facility administrators to negotiate contracts that improve the working conditions, wages, and benefits of its members. The union's collective bargaining efforts often focus on issues such as staffing ratios, patient safety, and health insurance benefits, and are frequently supported by other labor organizations, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the National Education Association (NEA). The union has negotiated contracts with numerous hospitals and healthcare facilities, including Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, and has worked with other organizations, such as the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association (CHA), to advocate for high-quality patient care.

● Political Activity

United Nurses and Allied Professionals is active in politics and advocates for policies that support nursing professionals and improve patient care. The union has endorsed candidates for public office, including Gina Raimondo, the former Governor of Rhode Island, and Elizabeth Warren, the United States Senator from Massachusetts. The union has also lobbied for legislation, such as the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which was introduced by Congressman David Cicilline and Congressman Jim Langevin. The union's political activity is often supported by other labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and frequently involves collaboration with other professional organizations, such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA).

● Notable Campaigns

United Nurses and Allied Professionals has been involved in numerous notable campaigns, including a campaign to improve staffing ratios at Rhode Island Hospital and a campaign to protect the pension benefits of its members. The union has also worked with other organizations, such as the National Nurses United and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), to advocate for single-payer healthcare and to oppose healthcare reform efforts that would harm nursing professionals and patients, often in collaboration with other professional organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA). The union's campaigns often involve rallies, protests, and other forms of activism, and are frequently supported by other labor organizations, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and the United Auto Workers (UAW).