Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center nurses to hold press event for health care justice with Graham Platner

RNs celebrate bargaining victory, call for health care justice for all

Nurses will hold a press conference in Bangor, Maine, with Graham Platner, candidate for U.S. Senate, on March 25 at 3 p.m. After eight months of bargaining, nurses at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) in Bangor, Maine, will vote today on a tentative agreement that addresses health and safety concerns of patients and nurses. Nurses and Platner will celebrate the win and call for health care justice for all.

"We won new safety protections for all nurses and patients, and made real economic improvements as well," said Erin Oberson, RN in the labor and delivery unit and member of the negotiating team. "Nurses will always fight for the protections our patients need. It's time we transform our health care system to be patient-centered, not profit-centered. We're excited to join Graham Platner today to discuss ways our federal candidates and elected leaders can fight for health care justice for all."

Who: Registered nurses at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and Graham Platner, candidate for U.S. Senate
What: Press event for health care justice
When: Wednesday, March 25, 3 p.m.
Where: Northern Light EMMC, 489 State St., Bangor, Maine

As a part of this event, Graham Platner will sign NNU's Patients Over Profits pledge, signaling his rejection of campaign contributions from the executives, lobbyists, and PACs affiliated with the corporate health care industry, including private insurers, pharmaceutical corporations, and private hospitals who are organizing to take over our health care system. Additionally, nurses and Platner will discuss his key health care policies, including Medicare for All and support for rural hospitals.

Maine State Nurses Association is part of National Nurses Organizing Committee, representing 4,000 nurses and other caregivers from Portland to Fort Kent. NNOC is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing labor union of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide.