Thursday Press Conferences in Bangor and Portland

The Maine State Nurses Association and other organizations will announce the start of their Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign at a press conference on Thursday as part of National Nurses Week. The Bangor conference begins at 11 a.m.; in Portland the conference start time is 10:00 a.m.

More than 130,000 Maine residents have no health coverage and those with insurance are experiencing drastic reductions in vital services. Personal stories pouring in from residents throughout the state who are suffering as a result of insufficient healthcare will be presented to elected leaders as evidence of the need for dramatic change.

“Everyone without exception should have the healthcare they need when they need it,” said Jess Mellott, an RN from Bangor. “Quality of care should not differ based on a patient’s ability to pay, where they live, or their age. We need a transparent system that doesn’t rely on complicated billing practices that place profits over care.”

The Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign is made up of the Maine State Nurses Association, Maine People’s Alliance, AllCare, and the state AFL-CIO.

MSNA is demanding that Maine have a healthcare system that recognizes that healthcare is a human right and includes these five principles: universality, fair financing, accountability, transparency, and participation.

WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Nurses Week

WHO: RNs from the Maine State Nurses Association

WHEN/WHERE: Portland Press Conference - Thursday, May 9th, 10:00 a.m. at the Western Prom, Bramhall St.

Bangor Press Conference - Thursday, May 9th, 11:00 a.m. in Downtown Bangor at Pickering Square,

Opposite Key Bank Building on Water Street

MSNA/NNU represents more than 2,000 registered nurses who work in facilities and agencies throughout the state of Maine. As the largest organization of nurses in the state, MSNA/NNOC is committed to improving the standards of nursing and patient care through collective bargaining, advocacy, and organizing. MSNA is part of National Nurses United, which represents over 180,000 RNs nationwide.