Healthcare Workers Union endorses Bill Keating

Keating the right choice for healthcare workers on the Cape and South Coast

By 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Veronica Turner

Working for 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers union in Massachusetts, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and acquainting myself with several elected leaders, from Barack Obama to members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate. Each one of these leaders has impressed me in different ways. Congressman Bill Keating is no exception.

Throughout his career, Congressman Keating has maintained a consistent record of fighting for the rights of workers, and has been a strong advocate for our hard-working families and labor. Our members on Cape Cod and the South Coast are confident that he will continue to be a clear and consistent voice for residents of the new 9th district. 1199SEIU members know that Congressman Keating shares their values regarding the importance of quality, affordable health care, and that he will be a strong advocate for both patients and caregivers.

Congressman Keating is the real deal. From his first day in office, he has been a vocal supporter of our local hospitals, fighting for us every day in Washington and bringing home critical funds to make necessary improvements.That’s why we chose to endorse the Congressman in his reelection bid for the congressional seat in the 9th district. Bill Keating looks beyond the partisan bickering that typifies the current political landscape and focuses on what matters most: the people. A firm believer that ‘politics as usual’ won’t move us forward, Congressman Keating is a man of action. He is exactly what working families need in Massachusetts.

The 1199SEIU Massachusetts Executive Board, comprised of 1199SEIU members and 1199SEIU leadership, voted to endorse Congressman Keating based on his exemplary performance this past year in his district. He has created 10,000 new jobs in Massachusetts – one of the only members of Congress to achieve this goal; sponsored the AGREE Act, a bipartisan bill that encourages economic growth and gives tax breaks to small businesses; fought back against attacks on Social Security and Medicare and was a leading voice in holding Big Oil accountable for the exorbitant subsidies they receive.

Congressman Keating is the real deal. From his first day in office, he has been a vocal supporter of our local hospitals, fighting for us every day in Washington and bringing home critical funds to make necessary improvements.  As health care workers, we are on the frontlines every day in our hospitals, in our consumers’ homes, and in nursing homes and we know that Bill Keating is a man who will fight alongside of us for quality, affordable health care.

The more than 46,000 union members of 1199SEIU are proud to stand behind Congressman Keating as he campaigns to represent the 9th district and continue fighting for working families. We are confident that his integrity, values, and work ethic will continue to help him be the leader that the Cape and South Coast need.

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the Union of healthcare workers working in the homecare, hospital and nursing home industries, as well as pharmacies, freestanding clinics and other healthcare settings. We care for the sick, the infirm, the elderly. The mission is to improve and expand quality patient care, to protect and improve the lives of our members and our families, and to work in solidarity with working people in our communities and around the world.