Yo, Cesar Chavez

Change Agents: Ned Lamont, John Edwards,
Phil Angelides to Rally California's Largest, Fastest Growing Local Union

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 1 -- U.S. Senate candidate from Connecticut, Ned Lamont, who won his primary race over an old guard incumbent this summer, will join John Edwards, Phil Angelides, and hundreds of rank-and- file leaders from California's largest and fastest growing union next week to rally for fundamental change in healthcare and the labor movement, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.

The 2nd Annual SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West (UHW) Leadership Conference, on September 8th and 9th at the San Jose Convention Center, will gather 2,000 frontline healthcare workers from across the state -- leaders of the union's 140,000 caregivers throughout California -- who will plan next year's work to change the course of the country.

The assembly will advance UHW's support for uniting all of SEIU's local healthcare unions into a single, nationwide healthcare workers union, an industry-wide organizing strategy to build labor strength promoted by the newly formed "Change to Win" federation.

In poll after poll in California and nationwide, Americans consistently place healthcare among their top three concerns. At the assembly, UHW members will chart a new direction in their fight to bring affordable, quality health care to all.

With 140,000 members, UHW is the largest healthcare workers union in California and the western United States, representing hospital professional, technical and service classifications, nursing home caregivers and homecare providers.


TENTATIVE SPEAKER SCHEDULE

Friday, September 8th:
-- 10:20 a.m.: Cindy Chavez, Vice Mayor and Mayoral candidate, San Jose
-- 11:05 a.m.: Dennis Rivera, President, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare
Workers - East, NY
-- 11:45 a.m.: Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer and Democratic
candidate for Governor
-- Noon: Ned Lamont, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Connecticut

Saturday, September 9th:
-- 1:15 p.m.: John Edwards, former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate
For interview requests and news media credentials, contact Kimberly Johnson, 510-773-7275, kjohnson@seiu-uhw.org. For more information, visit: www.seiu-uhw.org/leadership-conference-1.html .

Source: SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West