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Unions allow professionals to advance our careers and take better care of patients
Vandana Gogna - Physical Therapy
Susan Duncan - Speech Language Pathologist |
“What’s rewarding about physical therapy is that you get to see real progress with your patients,” said Dorene Tindal, a physical therapy assistant at Queens Hospital Center in New York. “Recently, I worked with a man who was an amputee and used a wheelchair. His goal was to walk with a cane before returning to his home in Barbados. We worked hard together, and he achieved his goal.” Tindal’s sentiments are echoed by her co-workers in the rehabilitation department at Queens Hospital, who recently joined 1199SEIU. “We believe in the stated mission of our hospital, they’re not just empty words to us,” said Susan Duncan, a speech-language pathologist. “To extend equally to all, regardless of their ability to pay, comprehensive health services of the highest quality in an atmosphere of humane care, dignity and respect". 
Mary Varkey - Physical Therapy
Glory Chacko - Physical Therapy |
“We all live in the surrounding area and we’re proud to work in a diverse community that is historically underserved when it comes to medical care,” said Vandana Gogna, a physical therapist. But the workers in the rehabilitation department say that over the past few years it has become more of a struggle to provide high quality care to patients. Management had cut back on tuition reimbursement, even though access to training and education is vital in their field. “That’s one of the reasons I love this job, because I’m constantly learning new things, such as neurological development techniques,” said Tindal. “And I wanted to maintain that constant learning, which 1199 helps to facilitate through training, education and career advancement opportunities.” The rehabilitation workers also had to endure years of stagnant wages. For one staff person, when she finally did receive a raise, management sent her a letter saying they had made a miscalculation and wanted her to return the money. “Rehabilitation is all about progress, we’re trying to move people towards the greatest functionality and highest level of independent living,” said Rosemarie Disla, an occupational therapist. “And we want to feel that we are progressing too; that we’re able to keep up with the cost of living, move forward in our careers and always serve our patients better.” “Sometimes as professionals, we think that we’re protected and have more power because of our skill level, but that’s really just naive,” said Duncan. “The only way we will be able to advance our professions and advocate for our patients is by being united in 1199.” Paulette Mitchell, a certified outpatient therapy assistant with a talent for speaking succinctly, summed it all up. “Let me put it plain and simple,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what type of healthcare worker you are, everybody needs a union.”
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