Page 7 - TheAlaskaNurseOctNov2018

WE CARE.

WE FIGHT.

WE SHOW UP.

WE VOTE.

Alaska Nurses Attend AFT Convention in Pittsburgh

Thousands of delegates, including five from the Delegates were reminded to reflect on their power as
Alaska Nurses Association, took part in the July 13-16 union members during the healthcare divisional meeting.
AFT convention in Pittsburgh, focusing on how member The delegates heard from Donna Kelly-Williams, president
engagement will chart a course for our union and our of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, who talked
democracy. Delegates debated and passed dozens of about her union’s campaign to put safe staffing limits on
resolutions on issues such as elections, labor and the the state ballot for 2018.
economy, and strategic planning for the future of our union.
The opioid crisis was on the menu at a joint breakfast
A number of resolutions were related to healthcare, that brought members from three AFT divisions together
including ones about workplace violence, creating a rapid to learn more about ways to address the issue.
response team for disaster relief, healthcare inequalities,
The convention also featured speeches from Hillary
the opioid epidemic and support for the Affordable Care
Clinton, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, AFT
Act.
members running for office, survivors of gun violence in
During the convention, the nurses and health schools, and more. The four-day event wrapped up with
professionals who traveled to Puerto Rico and the U.S. delegates overwhelmingly re-electing President Randi
Virgin Islands to provide disaster relief and recovery Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Lorretta Johnson and
following Hurricane Maria were honored with the AFT’s Executive Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker.
Heroes award.

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