Geri Weaver

Geri Weaver, an RN at Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Hudson, NY, for 23 years, says her work in the Intensive Care Unit is demanding, and often,draining.  And she loves it.

“I love my patients and provide the best care I can,” she says. “And still I want to be able to give even better care.  That’s why I’m taking classes for my B.A. and that’s why I’m on the 1199SEIU contract negotiating committee.”

Geri wasn’t always an activist.  “For 15 years we belonged to a different local, and there was little, if any, member involvement.”  In 2001, CMH employees became 1199SEIU members.  Things changed and some members got involved. Geri still chose to sit on the sidelines.

Several months after the last contract was settled, Geri’s Delegate died suddenly. “Linda was a nurse, our co-worker, our friend, and our leader,” Geri recalls. “When she died, a group of us RNs knew that we couldn’t let her down.  It was our responsibility to carry on the work of making the hospital a better place for patients and employees.”

Now, activism is part of Geri Weaver’s day-to-day life. The staff has grown closer to each other and stronger in their efforts to have a voice in patient care. Unfortunately, the administration has shut out professionals from important patient care decisions.

“The hospital administration needs to give autonomy back to nurses.  We are not robots; we are intelligent and caring individuals who have much to offer in the care of our patients,” says Weaver.  Her union involvement reminds her that she is not alone. In an hour and a half last weekend, “we got almost 500 petition signatures in support of our efforts.”

As an active member of the SEIU Nurse Alliance, Geri has lobbied in Washington D.C, and met other RNs from across the state and country. “Nurses, as individuals and as a group have an incredible amount of skill and insight to offer.  Informed and enlightened hospital administrators will listen to us,” she said.