Nurses aboard National Nurses United’s #BernieBus have been connecting with voters in the Buckeye State all week—listening to the issues that impact residents’ lives—and will be heading to Massillon and Youngstown, Ohio on Thursday.

“People in Ohio have been excited to see the nurses for Bernie bus. They come up to us and want to know more about Bernie, or many, many times, they’re already supporters—and they give us their reasons for supporting Bernie while we share ours,” said RN Jean Ross, an NNU Co-President, who has been traveling on the Bernie Bus for weeks. “They were happy about results in Michigan, and we’re finding that people in Ohio have a strong belief he can do as well here.”

On Wednesday, the nurses met with local healthcare advocacy group Single Payer Action Network, to talk with students at Kent State about Bernie’s plans for Medicare for all and free college education.

RNs, Single Payer Action Network’s Debbie Silverstein (third from left) meet with Kent State Students.

“It was really moving to encounter so many Bernie supporters on the Kent State campus and so many students who were politically engaged,” said David Welch, RN. “A significant number of students we talked to have family members who are either dealing with serious health issues or who are healthcare providers themselves, so healthcare for all was a major topic of discussion.”

Bernie Bus Stops for Thursday March 10, 2016

MASSILLON
Morning — RNs Meet With Ohio Nurses from Affinity Medical Center

YOUNGSTOWN
Afternoon — #BernieBus in downtoan Youngstown for voter outreach, and stops at Museum of Labor and Industry
Evening — RNs Visit Bernie Office (Niles) to Congratulate Volunteers on Get Out Vote Efforts

Please contact Kari Jones for specific times, places to connect with bus: 510-207-4829

The #BernieBus nurses’ get–out-the-vote effort in Ohio will bring them to Massillon and Youngstown on Thursday. In Massillon, the nurses will meet with local RNs from Affinity Medical Center, who continue the valiant fight for their first contract. Affinity nurses’ widespread concerns about patient safety were the driving force that galvanized them to organize and fight to win representation through NNU-affiliated California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

Affinity is owned by Community Health Systems (CHS), which has engaged in rampant and serious unfair labor practices in Ohio and other locations, including terminating RN leader Ann Wayt, who returned to work in early 2014 and was awarded $2 million in a unanimous civil jury verdict, in a defamation case against Affinity Medical Center in 2015. The National Labor Relations Board has upheld numerous unfair labor practice charges filed against the hospitals by NNU and three US District Courts issued injunctions in response to the employer's unlawful conduct early in contract negotiations with RNs.

“It’s really meaningful that we get to meet with the Affinity nurses and hear more about their fight to better protect their patients by forming a union. It’s especially exciting that we get to come meet them with the #BernieBus, since the Workplace Democracy act, introduced by Bernie, ensures protections for workers trying to form a union,” said Laura Dominguez, RN. “Bernie fights so hard for workers! That’s one of the things we’re talking about with the people of Ohio.”

In the afternoon and evening, the Bernie Bus will visit Youngstown sites such as the Museum of Labor and Industry—and make a stop at the Bernie campaign office in Niles to congratulate volunteers on a their recent get out the vote efforts.

Please contact Kari Jones for specific times, places to connect with bus: 510-207-4829

National Nurses United, with over 185,000 members from all 50 states, is the largest organization of registered nurses in the U.S. and the first union to endorse Sanders, in August last year. Since then, NNU members have been organizing house  parties, rallies and phone banks, and mobilizing door-to-door efforts in support of Sanders.

“From Nevada to New Hampshire, from Colorado to South Carolina, RNs have talked to voters and been reminded of the huge gaps in access to healthcare and education, concerns about retirement security, the jobs lost due to unfair trade deals, widespread inequality, and the escalating climate crisis,” said RoseAnn DeMoro, NNU Executive Director. “Bernie Sanders and the legions of grassroots activists around the U.S. who have joined him will not stop. The political revolution is just beginning.”