June 21, 2020 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 7
Union celebrates healthcare frontline
workers while honoring George Floyd
BY BILL PARRY
Hundreds of 1199SEIU
members staged a candlelight
vigil at Mount
Sinai Queens Hospital in Astoria
to honor thousands of its
members who are self lessly
sacrificing their health and
the health of their loved ones
to care for people suffering
through COVID-19 pandemic.
The vigils were a way to celebrate
the heroic colleagues
who contracted COVID-19 and
lost their lives, as well as those
who continue to work every
day without being recognized
for their heroic acts.
Union members designated
as Town Criers led the crowd
in cheers and explained why
they were there.
“We are the healthcare
workers who have sacrificed
and risked our lives while
working on the frontlines of
the COVID-19 pandemic,” a
Town Crier said. “We leave
our families behind each day
to come to work to care for patients
who are unable to care
for themselves. We are here to
pay tribute to our fallen sisters
and brothers who gave their
life coming to work and providing
care for their patients.
We thank them for their dedication
and bravery.”
The union members also
visited Parker Jewish Institute
and Katz Women’s Hospital
honoring the memory
of George Floyd. Members
kneeled for eight minutes and
46 seconds while holding signs
reading “Black Lives Matter,”
“Time for Change” and
“Enough is Enough” during
the silent vigil, after which
Union members took a knee for George Floyd and honored healthcare worker at several Queens hospitals. Courtesy of 1199SEIU
members cheered and went
back to work.
Union officials said the vigil,
like others held around the
city in recent weeks, was during
members’ lunch breaks so
as not to interfere with patient
care.
“Police brutality and an inadequate
response to COVID-19
have led to avoidable death and
emotional trauma in our communities,”
a union organizer
said. “While we are on the
frontlines fighting COVID-19,
protestors were on the frontlines
fighting injustice and
racism.”
Simultaneous vigils were
held at all facilities where
1199SEIU members work in all
five boroughs, and in all five
states where 1199 represents
healthcare workers, New York,
Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Maryland, Florida and the District
of Columbia.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Vol. 98 No. 25 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT QNS.COM
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