Thanks to everyone who joined us for our monthly hospital workers’ membership meeting last Sunday, Thursday, or Saturday! This month’s meeting was a little different than our usual meeting. We opened up our program for discussion from all of our members to talk about what our reactions are to Trump’s attacks on our union, and how we as a union can and should fight back.

We discussed the dangerous cuts to Medicaid and other threats facing our communities. Members shared how Trump’s playbook is already showing up in our daily lives – from attacks on families to efforts to weaken our rights.

Let’s be clear: we are fighting against authoritarianism. Authoritarianism is a system based on the belief that people must obey completely and not be allowed freedom to act as they wish. It suppresses political freedoms and civil rights, shifting power from the people to the hands of one ruler or a set of rulers. Examples include Nazi Germany, Apartheid South Africa, Pinochet Chile, American Slavery, and more.

This is what we are organizing against—and why our collective action is so important. But we didn’t just talk about the problem. We also shared strategies to fight back. Check out more information below!

Labor Day Actions – September 1

Join us in Chicago, Rockford, Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Merrillville to stand together for a better world.

Chicago: meet at our Chicago office at 10 AM for a ride, or at the Haymarket Memorial at 11 AM. RSVP for the Chicago Rally here.

Springfield: meet at our Springfield office at 11 AM. RSVP for the Springfield Rally here.

Rockford: meet at our Rockford office at 10 AM. RSVP for the Rockford Rally here.

Merrillville: meet at our Merrillville office at 10 AM. Register for the Merrillville Rally here.

St. Louis: meet at Shaw Park Chapman Plaza and Falls at 12 PM. Register for the St. Louis Rally here.

Kansas City: meet at the fountain in Mill Creek Park at 12 PM. Register for the Kansas City Rally here.

Bargaining Wins Show Our Power

There are lots of opportunities to organize in your shop! Several of our hospitals are in the midst of bargaining or have a contract campaign coming up soon. Check it out!

✅ Mt. Sinai & Schwab members justwon strong new contracts.

✅ Sodexo members at Mt. Sinai are bargaining now.

✅ Ingalls members vote for their bargaining team on September 12. Join us on Friday to fill out your bargaining survey at our food truck.

✅ Northwestern’s contract is coming up early next year.

VA Workers: Sign Our Letter to Sec. Doug Collins

Secretary Douglas Collins told the Senate he’d be the “biggest cheerleader” for VA employees and that it’s “all about the veterans.” But his actions—including attacks on collective bargaining rights, DEIA, staffing, and pay—betray those promises.

Sign our letter to demand that Secretary Collins keep his promise to protect VA workers and veterans by:

• Restoring collective bargaining and union rights for all VA employees
• Implementing the 2025 pay increase owed to workers
• Prioritizing proper staffing and fair pay instead of privatization/community care misdirection
• Reinstating DEIA programs and fair, merit-based hiring policies
• Ensuring every VA employee can speak freely and feel valued

SIGN OUR PETITIONS!

Want to get involved? Sign our petitions to fight for hospital workers across the state!First, sign our petition demanding safe staffing for all Illinois and Indiana hospitals. Workers from around the state are coming together to put an end to short staffing— sign on now!

We are also inviting our VA members to sign this petition urging our lawmakers to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which restore the collective bargaining rights and lawful union contracts of over one million federal workers who were affected by Trump’s anti-worker executive order. This petition will also direct you to a page where you can contact your congressional representatives and urge them to protect our VA.

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