Ashton Mota

May 28, 2024

Ashton Mota is a transgender teen activist and storyteller from Massachusetts. At 15 years-old, he was one of the faces of the state’s Yes on 3 campaign, which held up an earlier law protecting transgender people in public accommodations. His participation in GenderCool, a storytelling project for nonbinary youth, led to an invitation to speak at the White House, sharing his experience of being transgender and a person of color. Mota has also authored resources to help youth who are navigating their gender identity.

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The Physical Therapist at Visiting Nurses Association of Santa Cruz is an exercise enthusiast who helped lead her coworkers in the bargaining of their new contract.

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National Union of Healthcare Workers endorses Kamala Harris for president

NUHW's endorsement is based on two decades of experience working with Harris to improve the lives of California’s working families.

Stockton Unified School District workers ratify first union contract

A year after 50 district therapists organized with NUHW, they have achieved equitable pay and working conditions with their co-workers.

Sutter workers keep free healthcare in hard-fought contract wins

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Mission Neighborhood Health Center nurses join NUHW

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NUHW members push Kaiser to honor Juneteenth

After NUHW members in Oakland and Richmond struck two years ago to make Kaiser Permanente recognize MLK Day as a paid holiday, they have begun organizing to do the same for Juneteenth.

Four Democratic candidates for Califoria governor to appear at NUHW Forum this September

In September, two yeears prior to the mid-term election, NUHW will host a Governor Candidate Forum

MarinHealth workers win big raises in first contract

Workers at the outpatient MRI clinic will receive on average 23 percent raises in the first year of the agreement.

State Legislature honors NUHW’s Sal Rosselli as LGBTQ icon

Rosselli was one of 16 LGBTQ leaders honored this month by both houses of the California State Legislature for their contributions to the state.

NUHW members hit picket lines at Keck-USC

With the university proposing wage freezes and healthcare cuts that would worsen an understaffing crisis, NUHW members picketed hospitals across the Keck-USC system.

Healthcare Workers to Picket Keck–USC Hospitals and Clinics, Wednesday, June 5

2,000 healthcare workers are protesting short-staffing, wage freezes, reductions in healthcare benefits, and Keck–USC’s union-busting tactics.

Kaiser mental health professionals gear up for big contract fight

In the aftermath of a successful strike in Northern California, their counterparts in Southern California are uniting behind a platform to win similar gains.

Member Profile: Benjamín Maldonado

Maldonado, a janitor at San Rafael Healthcare & Wellness Center, likes to organize teammates on the soccer field and at the workplace.

MarinHealth workers win new contract after strike

The five-year agreement includes significantly bigger raises than management had offered before workers held their first work stoppage in more than five years.

NUHW Lobby Day helps save critical patient care bill

On Mental Health Matters Day at the State Capitol, teams of NUHW members and staff met with dozens of lawmakers and their staffers to secure support for two NUHW-sponsored bills.

Nursing home workers win better salaries and benefits

Long-tenured members at a Marin County nursing home will get 8 percent raises over the next two years in addition to bridge toll reimbursements and more bereavement leave.

NUHW grows at Providence’s St. Joseph Eureka and Santa Rosa Memorial hospitals

More than 150 professionals at the two facilities voted this month to join their colleagues as NUHW members — giving NUHW more than 2,000 members at Providence facilities throughout Northern California.

Corrine Sako advocates for patients and her fellow therapists

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Assemblymember Gail Pellerin takes a leading role in the fight for mental health parity

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NUHW endorses Aaron Peskin for San Francisco mayor

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Keck-USC workers refuse to be silenced

In a show of strength, nearly 2,000 NUHW members at Keck Medicine of USC, rallied against the university’s attempt to take away their benefits or their right to advocate for patients.

San Diego Supervisors pass resolution backing Kaiser therapists

San Diego became the third county in the last six months to urge Kaiser to restore critical patient care time for mental health therapists in Southern California.

Celebrating May Day in Los Angeles

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.

NUHW members honored for 2022 Kaiser strike

The SF Labor Council honored NUHW mental health workers for their 10-week strike that forced Kaiser to start making major improvements to its mental health services.

Member Profile: Augustin Martinez

The medical assistant and shop steward at Mission Neighborhood Health Center says being part of a union makes him feel secure and supported.

Homecare workers picket in Santa Cruz

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Providence workers launch fight for single NorCal contract

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More USC workers vote to join NUHW

After a long delay due to the university’s legal maneuverings, caregivers at the USC Engemann Student Health Center voted to join more than 2,000 of their colleagues as NUHW members.

Assembly advances NUHW-sponsored legislation

The two bills would help patients advocate for their rights and help state authorities hold health plans accountable for providing legally-required health care.

Sutter workers strike again in Sacramento with Dolores Huerta in attendance

NUHW members at Sutter Health’s Sacramento psychiatric hospital held a three-day strike as they continue to fight for a first contract with fair wages and no healthcare takeaways.

Marin workers hold first strike since 2019

More than 100 medical technicians at MarinHealth Medical Center struck for one day as they fight to protect their health benefits and win strong raises.

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Q&A with Sandra Leal-Lopez, LMFT

Sandra Leal-Lopez and her colleagues in Panorama City have been creative in fighting back against Kaiser’s cut to Patient Management Time and they’re gearing up to demand more from Kaiser in contract negotiations.

Workers to strike Sutter psychiatric hospital in Sacramento for three days starting Tuesday, April 23

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Seton workers strike to restore quality health insurance

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News of the Month – March 2023

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NUHW members take fight to Providence

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Member Profile: Salote Lutui

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News of the Month — March 2024

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News of the Month – February 2024

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Member Profile: Sal Goshorn

The Anesthesia Tech at USC Norris Cancer Hospital is using his bargaining experience as former president of the State Parks Peace Officers Association to serve on his 200-member Keck-USC Contract Bargaining Committee.

Kindred San Diego professional workers ratify their first union contract

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Reflecting on the longest ever mental health strike

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NUHW hosts Katie Porter rally

Congresswoman Porter spoke to an audience of nearly 200 supporters at NUHW’s Emeryville headquarters with local electeds and union leaders pledging to help her win the March 5 Primary Election for U.S. Senate.

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NUHW expands presence at Providence San Pedro

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News of the Month – January 2024

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Member Profile: Nora Fonseca

Nora, a housekeeper at Sutter California Pacific Medical Center, walked picket lines with her mother before becoming a union leader herself at the San Francisco hospital.

Mission Neighborhood Health Center workers get big raises with contract extension

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NUHW joins fight against anti-LGBTQ+ extremists in Glendale

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NUHW members at Providence hospital get abusive managers terminated

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News of the Month – December 2023

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Workers at Aspen nursing homes fight hard for new contracts

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Seton workers picket over cuts to services and health benefits

Having successfully fought to keep their community hospital open through two bankruptcies, NUHW members are now confronting a new owner that is slashing patient care services and worker healthcare benefits.

NUHW nurses save the day at fundraiser

NUHW nurses save the day at fundraiser.

Sutter workers hold first ever strike

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Orange County Supervisors call on Kaiser to reverse cuts

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NUHW membership at USC tops 2,000 with organizing victories at Verdugo Hills Hospital

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News of the Month – November 2023

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Member Profile: Humberto Retana

Humberto Retana is a marriage and family therapist who got involved with his union to support his coworkers and "stay close to the action."

Sutter workers picket psych hospital, authorize strike

Local media outlets covered the picket that included several local elected leaders supporting NUHW members, who have been in contract negotiations for 18 months. A one-day strike has been authorized for December 6.

After winning contract, NUHW members take concerns to county sheriff

After winning contract, NUHW members take concerns to county sheriff.

NUHW continues growth at Keck-USC Health System

Workers at the USC Spine Center are the latest USC employees to join NUHW with more union elections scheduled for December.

More hospice workers vote to join NUHW

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Member Profile: Creight Fontenelle

Creight and his nearly 1,800 coworkers are gearing up to win the best contract ever at Keck USC.

NUHW endorses Katie Porter for U.S. Senate

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News of the Month – October 2023

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Kindred San Diego workers strike for fair pay

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Newsom signs NUHW-backed universal healthcare bill

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Kindred Bay Area workers win better salaries and benefits

Kindred Bay Area workers win better salaries and benefits.

Historic settlement: Kaiser agrees to pay record fine, spend $150 million to improve mental health services

In a major victory for Kaiser therapists and patients, Kaiser acknowledged systemic failures in its mental healthcare system and committed to addressing them. The agreement settled two state investigations, one of which found that Kaiser had canceled over 111,000 therapy appointments during last year’s 10-week strike.

Nearly 500 workers join NUHW in October

Approximately 470 workers at a major Providence hospital voted to join NUHW, while smaller groups workers at two facilities voted to join their colleagues as NUHW members.

Kaiser homecare workers fight back to preserve quality care

Instead of providing adequate staffing levels, Kaiser is seeking to force homecare workers to work across established service lines and service areas, threatening patients with longer waits for care.

Victory for Medical Social Workers at Kaiser

Medical Social Workers in Kern County recently won open schedules and ended the practice of booked appointments in their department. The old booking practice had interfered with their autonomy and opened the door for micromanagement.

NUHW-backed universal healthcare bill heads to governor’s desk

SB 770, which passed the Assembly in September, would pave the way to guaranteeing healthcare for all Californians.

Member Profile: Billie Jean Barton

As NUHW members at Providence hospitals in Northern California prepare to bargain their next contract, union steward Billie Jean Barton is encouraging her coworkers — including her own son — to get involved in the negotiations.

News of the Month – September 2023

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Member Profile: Thomas Christian

Following his father’s example, Thomas Christian is outspoken in his advocacy for his co-workers.

News of the Month – September 2023

Read our roundup of the latest labor and healthcare news from top media outlets.

NUHW further expands presence at Keck-USC healthcare system

Seeking the same job security and benefits as their NUHW colleagues, Pasadena Lab workers voted unanimously to unionize.

Workers get Penalty Pay extended at a major Providence hospital

After a year of paycheck errors that triggered a fierce response from stewards, NUHW members at Queen of the Valley Medical Center secured $250 in penalty pay for any future errors.

Complaint seeks to downgrade Kaiser’s accreditation status in Hawai’i

In filing complaint with Kaiser’s accreditation agency, NUHW cites HMO’s failure to meet the mental health staffing levels it had agreed to in its Corrective Action Plan.

Kaiser Model of Care Committees off to good start

In part due the mental health timely access law NUHW sponsored, Model of Care Committees in Northern California have made strong recommendations to increase access and reduce caseloads.

Poised to strike, workers win big raises at Anaheim hospital

NUHW’s newest members at West Anaheim Medical Center will receive average wage increases of 26 percent with some workers securing 61 percent raises over the next three years.

Member Profile: Michael Camarena

Michael Camarena, a pharmacy tech at West Anaheim Medical Center, is helping lead coworkers in their fight for safe staffing and better pay.

A small contract provision makes a big difference for patients

NUHW contract at San Francisco nonprofit includes language helping therapists with immigration paperwork so patients get culturally competent care.

New NUHW members picket West Anaheim Medical Center over short staffing, poverty wages

Seven months after voting to join their colleagues as members of NUHW, workers formed picket lines to demand fair treatment and better wages.

Opposition growing to Kaiser’s patient care takeaways

Elected officials, including Rep. Katie Porter (shown above), are joining NUHW members in opposing an attempt by Kaiser to reduce the amount of time mental health therapists in Southern California would have for critical patient care duties.

LA LGBT Center workers ratify contract with improved salaries and security measures

The three-year agreement will boost wages by an average of 22 percent and provide safer working conditions amid a sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.

News of the Month – July 2023

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Member Profile: Isidro Sanchez

During his 17 years at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Isidro Sanchez has helped build a union that helped workers win respect and significantly higher pay from their employer.

News of the Month – June 2023

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Phlebotomists win higher salaries, $6,000 in back wages

Shortly before a grievance was set to go to arbitration, Queen of the Valley Medical Center agreed to create a higher-paying Phlebotomist classification and pay several workers who should have been receiving higher wages for over a year.

Workers ready to picket West Anaheim Medical Center

Elected officials and community allies are supporting NUHW members in their fight for a fair contract.

NUHW-backed reform bill clears key Assembly committee

After sailing through the State Senate, SB 770, a bill that would set the stage for groundbreaking reform of California’s healthcare financing and delivery system, advanced out of the State Assembly’s Health Committee.

NUHW passes Pride Month resolution against growing extremist violence

Amid growing extremist violence against the LGBTQ+ community, NUHW’s Executive Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution rejecting LGBTQ+ hate.

Workers at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland ratify new contracts, averting second strike

The new contracts for more than 1,300 NUHW members include provisions to protect quality pediatric care in the East Bay as well as substantial pay increases and job security protections.

News of the Month – April 2023

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Member Profile: Avleen Kaur

Whether it’s singing, reciting poetry, or defending her colleagues, the mental health counselor at Richmond Area Multi-Services never hesitates to make herself heard.

News of the Month – May 2023

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NUHW participates in Mental Health Matters Day

The annual mental health advocacy event in Sacramento presented an opportunity for NUHW members to meet peers and inform the public about our ongoing parity work.

NUHW expands presence at Keck-USC healthcare system

Nearly two dozen workers at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center voted to join more than 1,700 of their Keck-USC colleagues as NUHW members.

Kindred San Diego workers ratify contract with 26 percent average wage increases

New agreement includes the highest wage scale of any Kindred hospital in Southern California.

Fighting to save birthing services in Petaluma

Chanting “Keep OB Open,” dozens of workers protested the closure of Petaluma Valley Hospital’s birthing center and vowed to continue fighting to reopen it.

UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland workers authorize second strike

More than 1,300 NUHW members are preparing for a potential three-day strike after UCSF refused to make movement in contract negotiations following a one-day strike in April.

Mental health patients now have legal precedent on their side

In a unanimous ruling, an appeals court revived a class-action lawsuit by families of Kaiser Permanente patients who claim they or their loved ones did not receive adequate mental health care. The ruling is now legal precedent in California.

State Senate passes NUHW-backed bill to put California on pathway to guaranteed healthcare

SB 770 aims to make California the first state to guarantee its residents a standard set of comprehensive, high quality health benefits.

Member Profile: Marlene Castro

The highly-respected Seton Medical Center social worker and case manager helped her colleagues secure their first contract.

Historic LGBTQ+ organization honors NUHW

NUHW was named Organization of the Year by the Stonewall Democratic Club, the largest LGBTQ+, feminist, and progressive political advocacy organization in Southern California.

Workers at Rogers Mental Health Clinic and Wellpath Santa Cruz jail vote to join NUHW

The newest NUHW members want to improve care for their patients, while securing fair wages and better working conditions.

State Senate advances NUHW-sponsored healthcare reform bill

SB 770 would set California on a path to becoming the first U.S. state to create a healthcare system in which no resident is denied care based on age, employment, disability, income, immigration status, or any other characteristic.

NUHW continues growth at Keck-USC

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NUHW members hold largest-ever strike at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland

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Member Profile: Shannon Signer

Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital radiology tech uses her retail and teaching experience to advocate for coworkers

NUHW members get Fountain Valley Regional Hospital cited for inadequate care

Investigation by California regulator confirms hundreds of complaints filed by NUHW members about the hospital’s unsafe staffing levels.

How NUHW members won a great contract at Providence Tarzana

After failing to accomplish their goals in their previous contract campaign, workers at Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center built unprecedented unity to win bigger raises and other gains this year.

NUHW on leading edge of fight for charity care

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NUHW members at Elk Grove Unified School District win big raises

After re-opening their contract last year, the workers secured a 10 percent retroactive raise as well as an additional bonus and better benefits.

Fountain Valley NUHW members honored at economic justice gala

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Member Profile: Lucy Cisneros

Petaluma Valley Hospital ultrasound tech brings her fighting spirit from the tennis court to her Providence (St. Joseph) hospital.

Mental health therapists at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii ratify contract ending 172-day strike

The three-year agreement preserves pensions and includes guaranteed raises without which Kaiser stood to lose even more therapists, resulting in even longer appointment wait times for patients.

NUHW members help lead fight to save acclaimed birthing center

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Providence St. Joseph Health hospice workers join NUHW

Fighting to preserve their patient-first principles amid layoffs and cutbacks, the Sonoma County workers united behind the organizing drive.

Newly unionized Sutter caregivers win fight for merit raises

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Seton professionals win long battle for better wages

After more than a year at the bargaining table, workers won 16 percent raises over three years.

Kindred workers in San Diego gain voluntary union recognition

With worker support for joining NUHW crystal clear, the hospital chain opted to recognize their union rather than to request a formal vote.

News of the Month – February 2023

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Find out how much you’d save with Medicare for All

The Sacramento Bee recently ran a commentary about a tool designed by Healthy California Now and NUHW letting Californians calculate how much money they’d save if the state adopted a single-payer Medicare for All healthcare system. Find out how much you'd save.

Ashton Mota

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