SEIU-UHW members joined thousands of other union members, activists and unemployed Americans in Washington, D.C. last week to “Take Back the Capitol.”
The week-long event was focused on bringing the message of the 99%—that we need good jobs and no more cuts to services like Medicare and Medicaid—to our politicians. Read member Yitskhaq Abraham El’s blog about what inspired him to participate in the actions.
Members and other activists started off the week by building a tent city, called “The People’s Camp,” in the middle of the National Mall. From there, people shared their stories and took inspiration from each other. SEIU-UHW member Lea Flanigan was excited and ready to take action:“This is the year of people power: the power to occupy and to have the voice of the people heard. As union members from across the country, we are showing that through our power and unity we can make sure elected officials hear the voice of the 99%.”
Tuesday, members visited 21 members of Congress to encourage them to defend Medicare and Medi-Cal from cuts, and to let them know what healthcare workers care about: the health of our communities and good jobs. For many members, it was a very positive experience: “We had a full day of meeting with congress members and their staff–we even got to meet Congressman Xavier Becerra from the super-committee. All of the congress people we met were on board with no cuts to Medicare,” said Alethea Gayda from Kaiser Santa Rosa.
Braving bad weather, on Wednesday members marched to K Street and took their message to the lobbyists of major corporations that are standing in the way of good jobs and failing to pay their fair share. Protesters closed down a major K Street intersection to demand that the 1% stop interfering with democracy. “Despite rain and cold, we got together and used ideas from each other. We had a common agenda, and our purpose was one, and I believe we sent our message very successfully,” said Martha Draughn, a home care member from San Joaquin county.
Members ended their week with an interfaith vigil for people who are struggling to find jobs and make ends meet, before they and thousands of other participants marched on the office of Speaker John Boehner to demand that he stop blocking efforts to create jobs.
Deborah Hibbler, a home care member from Sacramento, summed up the week best: “Every year home care workers have to fight for our clients and for our jobs, and we often feel hopeless. Being with so many of our members of SEIU from across the United States, we came together in Washington, D.C. with one voice and one message: the 99% won’t take it anymore. We need jobs and health insurance. I can truly say that in taking back the capitol, I know now that we will keep fighting and we will see a change in homecare in 2012. Hope is in the air.”