In wake of yet another mass shooting, healthcare union demands action to end this public health crisis
SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania applauds U.S. House Democrats who held a 24-hour sit-in to demand our government take action against gun violence.
“As we join the nation in mourning those gunned down in Orlando, we are also filled with outrage that in the wake of yet another horrible act of gun violence, so many of our elected leaders chose to do nothing,” said Neal Bisno, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. “The number of people who die every year from gun violence is unacceptable, and it is disgraceful that politicians offer immediate sympathy but then bow to the pressure of gun lobbyists, rather than take action to fix this.”
“The number of people who die every year from gun violence is unacceptable, and it is disgraceful that politicians offer immediate sympathy but then bow to the pressure of gun lobbyists, rather than take action to fix this.”
Fed-up Dems just occupied House Floor – won’t move until we get a vote on No-Fly, No-Buy. pic.twitter.com/cIrWgrMnC0
— Mike Doyle (@USRepMikeDoyle) June 22, 2016
The American Medical Association has called gun violence a “public health crisis.” As a union representing 45,000 healthcare workers across the state, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania strongly supports direct action to deal with this issue.
“House Democrats’ sit-in demonstrates they are willing to make this the national priority it needs to be,” continued Bisno.
Lisa Savage, an SEIU Healthcare PA member from Philadelphia, had her life changed forever when her son Brandon was hit by two stray bullets while home from college in the summer of 2010.
“One of the bullets hit his jaw and went into his spine. He’s now a quadriplegic,” Lisa said. “He spent days on life support and we weren’t sure he’d make it.”
When he was finally ready to go home, Brandon asked his mother to be his caregiver, so she quit her job of 20 years and now cares for him full-time.
“He requires round-the-clock care,” she said. “He gets chronic infections and was on oxygen for a while. But even though his mind is still sharp – sharper than mine – he hasn’t been able to go back to school and finish his degree.”
“This has to stop,” she continues. “How many more families need to suffer? I’m afraid for my 12 year old to go outside or take public transportation. I’m so thankful for Congressman Lewis and the others who took a stand and didn’t allow more silence on this issue. Common sense and decency say this has to change.”
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SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is the state’s largest and fastest-growing union of nurses and health care workers, uniting nearly 45,000 nurses, professional and technical employees, direct care workers, and service employees in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home and community-based services, and State facilities across the Commonwealth. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania members are committed to improving the lives of health care workers` and ensuring quality care. and healthy communities and for all Pennsylvanians.