WASHINGTON, DC - Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), released the following statement in response to the tentative agreement between more than 160,000 members of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the New York League of Voluntary Hospitals:

New York City outpaces every other city in America in terms of cost of living - the cost of rent, food and housing can break a family without the foundation of a good job with a fair wage, affordable healthcare and a secure retirement. That's why the tentative agreement shared today by George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU, and the leadership of the New York League of Voluntary Hospitals is critical to future of the quality care in New York's hospitals and to the future of tens of thousands of working women and men.

"Today also demonstrates yet again that workers across the country are not waiting to find the path to economic security, they are leading the way:

• 1199 SEIU hospital workers marched and demonstrated and spoke out on the streets of Baltimore for months because they believed no one who worked for Johns Hopkins should be homeless. They recently won wage increases that mean more workers have a fair shot at living their American dream.


• Working women and men of all ages and from all walks of life led the fight to win a $15 minimum wage in Seattle.


• In Pittsburgh, healthcare workers continue to call for $15 an hour working wage at the state's largest for-profit hospital system and the right to a free and fair union election, despite a steady stream of harassment and intimidation in the workplace.


• More than 26,000 home care workers in Minnesota will be voting for a union to improve home care jobs and the quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities.


• And fast food workers are uniting, not just in the U.S., but around the globe, to win higher wages and respect on the job.

"While all around us, corporations and extreme right wing keep fighting for more and telling Americans they deserve less, there are brave working women and men coming together to stop them in their tracks and strengthen our economy. Day by day, city by city, workers are making the difference."

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