Lillian White

Home Attendant / United Homecare Agency / Brooklyn, NY

Many of the 2,000 members of 1199SEIU members who marched and rallied June 24 to support Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) workers knew firsthand the challenges of a contract struggle.

“What is happening to the workers here could happen to any of us,” said Lillian White, a home attendant and Union Delegate with Brooklyn’s United Homecare Agency.

That’s why White and fellow homecare workers Carolyn Gurley and Barbara Bleau left their Brooklyn homes early that rainy Saturday morning. They all agreed the fight at CMH is important enough to face a few rain clouds and a couple of hours traveling on a bus.

“We’ve already been through what they’re going through,” said White. “We thought it was important to take the time to help them get exactly what they want and what they need.”

Arlene McDonald, a home attendant with Brooklyn’s NY Foundation for Senior Citizens said she also wanted to send CMH bosses another important message: “We are here to say no to cuts and yes to more money.”

“Invisible No More,” the longtime slogan of 1199SEIU homecare workers has also been adopted as a theme by the CMH caregivers.