THANKS TO THOSE WHO ENDORSED THE LETTER SUPPORTING SEIU'S NURSE ORGANIZING AT DENVER HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER!
March 27, 2003 Update

CPC thanks all of our community members and allies who gave their name or their organization's name in support of the nurse organizing drive at Denver Health Medical Center.  In just four days, several dozen community leaders and organizations added their support to this important effort for health care quality and for workers' rights to organize.  Attached in Word and in text below you can see the letter and its endorsers.  CPC and SEIU will keep you updated as the organizing drive progresses.

Thank you!

Bill Vandenberg, for
Colorado Progressive Coalition

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 20, 2003

Dr. Patricia A. Gabow, CEO
Denver Health and Hospital Authority
660 Bannock Street, Fifth Floor
Denver, CO 80204

Dear Dr. Gabow:

As community members and leaders representing tens of thousands of Denver residents, we are pleased to hear that nurses at the Denver Health Medical Center have formed a union in order to improve staffing, retention and patient care.  Research shows that union hospitals are significantly more productive because employees share in decision making.

As a vital community resource committed to the highest levels of patient care for all people regardless of income, Denver Health occupies a special role in our city and state.  By recognizing the desires of its nurses to seek union representation, Denver Health can set an example to other hospitals in the area that its workers - and the quality of care that they provide - are the highest priorities.

The Service Employees International Union Nurse Alliance and Denver Health will make great partners in preserving and improving health care in our community.  We trust and hope that you will develop a collaborative relationship and look forward to your response to our letter and to the nurses of Denver Health.

Thank you.

Sincerely,


Bill Vandenberg
Co-Director (also a former DHMC Patient)
Colorado Progressive Coalition

and the following community, religious, civil rights, and working family advocates and community leaders who strongly support the nurses' organizing efforts at DHMC:

Sister Mary Ann Cunningham and Sister Anna Koop, Members
The Loretto Community
Denver

Lisa Duran, President
Rights for All People/ Derechos Para Todos*
Denver

Ashara Ekundayo, Executive Director
Pan African Arts Society*
Denver

Estevan Flores, Executive Director
Latino/a Research and Policy Center*
Denver

Lorraine Granado, Executive Director
Cross Community Coalition Family Resource Center*
Denver

LeRoy Lemos, Executive Director
New Cole Community Development Corporation
Denver

Virginia Martinez, Director
Colorado Family Resource Network
Denver

Anne L. McGihon
McGihon & Associates, LLC
Denver

Denny McGihon, Ph.D., LCSW, Chair
Clinical Social Work Guild, OPEIU, Local 49
Denver

Terri McMaster, Director, Diaconal Minister
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - Colorado
Denver

Linda Meric, Director
9to5, National Association of Working Women - Colorado Chapter
Denver

Linda Mulligan, National Field Representative
AFL-CIO
Denver

Melissa Muñoz, Board Chair, and Donaciano Martinez, Board Secretary
La Gente Unida, Inc.
Denver

Christopher Nevitt, Executive Director
Front Range Economic Strategy Center
Denver

Robert Shellenberger, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, President
Health Psychology Services

Anne Barkis, Director, and Nate Stone, Researcher
Colorado for Health Care
Denver

Dianne Tramutola-Lawson, Chair
Colorado-CURE
Denver

Eric Boyer, Concerned Community Member

Sean Brailey, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Valerie Burns, Professional Research Assistant
University of Colorado Health Services Center
Denver

Lisa Calderon, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Penelope Canan, Ph.D., Professor
Department of Sociology, University of Denver

Jon Goldin-Dubois, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Ricki Illes, MSW, LCSW, Psychotherapist
Colorado Society of Clinical Social Workers
Denver

Melanie Keene, Concerned Community Member & Former DHMC Patient
Denver

Ericka Landeros, Concerned Community Member

Pete Maysmith, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Patricia Medige, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Angela Padilla, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Michele Papale, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Val Phillips, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Ben Raizen, Retired, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Dennis Roe, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Susan Rogers, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Darius Lee Smith, Concerned Community Member
Denver

Tracey Stewart, Concerned Community Member
Denver

* organization listed for identification purposes only