Standing up for Care at the Supreme Court

1199 members from Baltimore and D.C. rallied on March 27 with hundreds of their SEIU brothers and sisters at the Supreme Court to stand up for the Affordable Care Act.

Justices were hearing oral arguments on whether key provisions of President Obama’s landmark healthcare reform law are legal. In particular, the legal challenge focuses on the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that individuals purchase health insurance by 2014 or face a fine.

“We all need healthcare at some point in our lives,” explained Evelyn Barber, an 1199 member and radiology technician at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “We all pay for uncompensated care. Healthcare reform will help make our system of coverage cheaper and will keep people healthier and safer. ”

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The Tax Break for People Who Deserve One

How 1199 is helping members get serious tax refunds

If you’ve been following the Republican presidential race, you might think that the only tax breaks in America are for guys named Mitt who get to park their cash in overseas accounts.

Fortunately, there’s also a tax relief program for people who actually deserve a break. It’s called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and for years 1199 has been providing free tax-prep services to members who meet the EITC income qualification.

“It’s an amazing program,” said Vondray Little, a Baltimore 1199er who used the union’s EITC tax-prep service for the first time last week.

“I just got back $1,177,” said Little. “They did my taxes for free, and with direct deposit I should have the money in my account by February 9th.”

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1199ers Help Keep the Dream Alive in Maryland

On January 16th, Martin Luther King Day, hundreds of Maryland 1199ers rallied with union members and progressives from across the state  at the capitol in Annapolis and called on elected leaders to promote legislation that lives up to the vision of Dr. King.

With Maryland’s 2012 legislative session just getting underway, rally speakers, including 1199 President George Gresham, linked Dr. King’s vision with upcoming legislation such as the DREAM Act benefiting immigrant students and the Marriage Equality bill benefiting all couples.

President Gresham both inspired and challenged the crowd with his remarks: “We’re here today to give honor to Dr. King and the dream that he had. The question is, are we going to dream the dream? Or are we going to live the dream?”

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Occupy Baltimore & DC and 1199: We Are All the 99 Percent

The delegates of 1199SEIU’s Maryland/DC region voted unanimously on October 19 to support Occupy Baltimore and Occupy DC, the local outposts of the global movement launched on Wall Street last month.

While some have complained that the movement lacks a clear message, representatives from the two Occupy groups stated it plainly, beginning their presentation to the delegates with a group chant of “We are the 99 percent!” Few slogans better capture the challenge confronting American workers today.

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After Hurricane Irene, Baltimore 1199er brings light to elderly residents in the dark

When Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc along the east coast last weekend, thousands of people lost electricity for days. Elderly residents at the Springwell Senior Living Community in Baltimore were hit especially hard. Luckily for them, 1199ers like Carolyn Taylor-Chester were on hand to provide care to residents without power.

Chester picked up extra shifts at the home in order to help the facility compensate for the lack of power. "My co-workers and I have been picking up extra shifts and doing the best we can to help out our residents."

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