NUHW members joined thousands of their union siblings for the 2024 May Day March and Rally organized by The Los Angeles May Day Coalition.
More than 2,000 workers filled the streets of Hollywood, marching and chanting before the start of a rally that included remarks from NUHW member Elnora Oseguera, a patient care technician at Keck Medicine of USC.
“I am proud to be here with all of my labor and immigrant brothers and sisters on this May Day, as a worker and immigrant myself from the Virgin Islands and a healthcare worker for 31 years,” Oseguera said to overwhelming cheers.
Like many at the event, Oseguera and her colleagues represent immigrant communities who unionized to fight for fair wages, safe staffing levels and safe working conditions, and are continuing to fight for their rights against anti-union employers.
“My coworkers and I are here to encourage everyone to speak up and have our voices as workers be heard,” Oseguera told the crowd. “Especially when our bosses and anti-union employers like Keck Medicine of USC try to silence us. Our union contract expired yesterday and we are preparing for an informational picket and potential strike this summer, so we are asking for your support to tell USC to put health over wealth!”
Oseguera received a rush of applause at the end of her speech as she exclaimed to the crowd “You matter, and your voices matter!” She was met by LA County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler immediately after her speech for an exchange of encouragement and gratitude.
As the event came to a close, NUHW members mingled with participants from several allied organizations including The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 770 and the LA County Labor Federation.
“I was very nervous to speak in front of so many people on behalf of our struggles at USC, but the cheers from my union siblings gave me so much confidence,”Oseguera said. “I’ve never been around this many union members before. It makes me even more excited for us to show our unity and take action to win a fair contract.”
