[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 98 (Monday, July 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISTRICT 1199P OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF 
                   HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEES

 Mr. WOFFORD. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to congratulate Pennsylvania's district 1199P of the 
National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees on its 20th 
anniversary.
  Unions for health care workers were not formed in Pennsylvania until 
1969 when a group at the Riverview Center for Jewish Seniors--formerly 
Jewish Home and Hospital--in Pittsburgh united and asked for union 
recognition. At that time, it was still illegal for health care workers 
to choose unions freely. But in 1970, the Pennsylvania Legislature 
passed a bill guaranteeing health care workers the right to organize.
  With the leadership of President Emeritus John Black and the support 
of the national union, district 1199P grew dramatically--successful 
campaigns in Lewistown, Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Pottstown, and 
elsewhere led to the district's official inclusion in the national 
union in 1974.
  Throughout the 1970's, the union expanded steadily and fought for its 
first contracts. By 1980, the union reached 5,000 members--truly 
extraordinary growth in just 10 short years.
  Today, 1199P represents over 8,000 health care workers and continues 
to reach the new levels of membership and involvement in the health 
care industry. As frontline health care workers, the union's members 
have recognized the need for changes in our current health care system, 
and they have been fighting to guarantee affordable health care 
coverage to all Americans. I stand with them in this battle and will 
also work to ensure that changes in the health care marketplace do not 
unfairly affect the backbone of the health care industry, our frontline 
health care workers.
  I salute district 1199P today as they celebrate and review their 
illustrious history. And I stand with them in solidarity as they look 
toward the future and assess today's and upcoming changes in the health 
care workplace.

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