In the immediate days following the earthquake disaster that struck Haiti, SEIU began to establish relief assistance and efforts. SEIU partnered with two organizations in their relief efforts, Partners in Health (PIH) and International Medical Corps (IMC). SEIU also partnered with well established relief organizations to accept financial donations.
Locally, there were inquires as to what an individuals within NAGE could do to support the people of Haiti. The local referred our members to the SEIU website for additional information. The response was tremendous, both in terms of individuals willing to be deployed, if needed, and financial donations.
SEIU Nurse Alliance worked closely with President Cipriaso throughout the weekend of January 16 -18 to coordinate possible deployments. On Tuesday, January 19, President Cipriaso spoke with VAMHCS Director about the possibility of obtaining some official release time for 2 or 3 RNs and, if authorized absence could not be approved, than to be supportive of permitting these RNs to use their annual leave which the individuals were willing to do so. The VAMHCS Director deferred the decision to Nursing.
Nursing seemed unwilling or unable to support this world wide relief effort. They would only grant one individual annual leave, although we were unofficially advised the units could be covered if others were granted leave for a couple of weeks. NAGE can only hope the decision was made in good faith. Unfortunately, the Local asserts this decision is reflective of much larger issue of internal labor relations.
NAGE member Simone Adelugba, RN (Baltimore MICU) was voluntarily deployed last week to Haiti. Originally from Haiti, NAGE/SEIU member Simone Adelugba is a registered nurse in the Critical Care Unit (MICU) at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Hospital. She's volunteered to travel to Haiti to assist with disaster relief efforts in the wake of the earthquake, joining other health care professionals from the SEIU union already on the ground. Right now, dozens of SEIU members are already in Port-au-Prince providing medical care and translation services for survivors and more are set to go each week.
SEIU has created an online card where you can share your thoughts and prayers for those traveling to Haiti (like Simone). Please visit the SEIU Nurse Alliance website.
NAGE is a SEIU affiliate.