NJ’s Largest Health Care Union Making a Push to Support Candidates Fighting to Protect Healthcare and Workers’ Rights

Delegation of HPAE Nurses Travel to Boston to Support Safe Staffing Ballot Initiative

With less than a week to Election Day, nurses and health professionals are stepping up their ‘get out the vote’ efforts for candidates committed to fighting for the rights of healthcare workers and patient safety.

“Mid-term elections are our chance to put a stop to attacks on our healthcare, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid,” said Debbie White, President of HPAE.  “HPAE is supporting candidates at the federal, state and local levels who are on the side of health care workers and patients.””

HPAE nurses and health professionals questioned candidates on and reviewed voting records on issues critical to health care access, quality and affordability:

• Worker rights to collectively bargain for safe patient limits and workers’ safety;
• Workplace protections for workers subjected to intimidation and harassment for involvement in union activities;
• A fair tax system;
• Support for pre-existing protections and adequate funding for the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid;
• Comprehensive Immigration reform

HPAE, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, will run an information and education program to encourage support from their 13,00 nurses and health care workers for candidates in key races this year: for US Senate, Senator Robert Menendez; and for Congress, Jeff Van Drew; Andy Kim; Tom Malinowski and Mikie Sherrill.

For the full list of HPAE endorsed candidates or for a list and questionnaires and voting records: www.hpae.org/campaigns/election-center-2018/.

In addition, HPAE nurses joined nursing colleagues from around the country in Massachusetts to win voter support for a ballot initiative, Question 1, that would establish safe patient limits in hospitals across the state.

“Nurses in Massachusetts are leading the fight to be the second state in the nation to set safe patient limits, so every patient can receive the care they deserve.  We are proud of HPAE’s nurses who are educating voters on the importance of voting Yes on question #1 to protect patients’ safety,” added White.