When she’s not discovering hiking trails around the Bay Area, Rosie Brooks loves reading, cooking, and sharing food with those who share her values of gratitude, strength, compassion, and fighting for what’s right and fair.
This is perhaps the reason why the telecommunications analyst was instantly on board when workers began to organize a union at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.
“I got involved with NUHW because I wanted to be a part of collective change for all UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital employees. I feel that my coworkers deserve fair treatment across the board,” Brooks said.
She loves being part of NUHW because she feels “part of a worker-aligned organization that empowers me to have an effective voice, not just for me but for my coworkers when we’re faced with unjust treatment or when our contract is being egregiously ignored and disregarded.”
Since becoming a steward, Brooks has focused on making positive changes for her coworkers at CHO and ensuring the contract is interpreted correctly and implemented properly. She’s participated in negotiations to ensure “we have a solid contract that is fair for all” and learned to communicate more effectively.
“Being a steward has challenged me to learn new forms of communicating with management and fellow workers, which is more effective when you speak the language of the contract,” she said.
As a steward, Brooks strives to do her due diligence whenever she’s needed.
“This is how we as NUHW members are taught, to treat each employee with respect, attacking all issues with much attention to detail to arrive at the best outcome in favor of the person or persons I may be representing,” she said. “My goal as a NUHW steward is to always arise victorious in aiding my coworkers when they are faced with uncertainties involving their position while employed with the hospital.”
In addition to handling grievances and participating in contract bargaining, Brooks participates in phone banking and canvassing to support local political candidates who support working people and healthcare reform—something she plans to do again as the election nears.
Brooks encourages all her coworkers to read the contract and take part in union actions.
“My hope is that we continue to grow collectively to become more involved, that we become more educated on the policies and bylaws of our contract, that more employees become interested in stepping up in whatever capacity they feel comfortable to lend their support and unique perspectives,” Brokos said. “That would result in the entire union body becoming even stronger and more knowledgeable.”
