Dial 1199

In this two-part episode, Shirley and Garth talk to home care workers about the fight to get paid accurately by Allied, the state's fiscal intermediary. Caregivers work hard to serve the needs of their customers, and they deserve respect from Allied, which includes receiving their paychecks "On Time, Every Time". When white, black and brown workers are living paycheck to paycheck, one payroll mistake can pose significant obstacles to meet the daily needs of our families.

Some Connecticut nursing homes are under threat of closure due to funding cuts in the state budget. Potential closures stemming from Medicaid reductions will disproportionately hurt black, brown and low-income communities. And when pulmonary and critical care specialist Sen. Saud Anwar, MD, takes a closer look at the people behind the numbers with Shirley, it turns out that the state will end up spending more in the long run. Acute care services like dialysis and ventilator treatment units will be shut down in skilled nursing homes. Patients will have to visit the hospital more frequently for medical attention. With an aging Boomer generation, closing these facilities now would be a huge mistake.

Marching on the streets by the hundreds of thousands from all political sectors, the people of Puerto Rico took down Governor Ricky Rosselló. But Puerto Ricans remain under U.S. colonial rule since 1898, and more recently under the Financial Oversight and Management Board, aka "La Junta", imposed by the federal government. Hartford activist Ramón Espinoza shares his story with Shirley as Puerto Ricans residing in the Caribbean archipelago and Puerto Ricans abroad from the diaspora engage in people's assemblies in order to move the agenda to more progressive policies.

America is a nation of immigrants, and we are stronger when people of different places and different races work together, fighting for the rights and human dignity of black, brown and white working people. We cannot allow the greedy few to divide us based on our looks, where we come from or how much money we have in the bank. Shirley and Garth discuss the heartbreaking crisis at the border created by the racist Trump administration, advocating for a humane process of immigration and for those seeking refugee status. Support the Connecticut Immigrant Bail Fund today! https://www.immigrantbailfund.org/

Healthcare workers at Connecticut Valley Hospital and Whiting Forensic Hospital delivered a petition to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services with more than 700 signatures in demand of safe staffing levels, adequate training to respond to specific patient populations, proper administration of disciplinary measures and better receptiveness to clinical staff recommendations. What's next? SEIU 1199 Organizer Avery Pittman and Vice President Paul Fortier join Shirley and Garth to follow up on our recent press conference to address short-staffing at the DMHAS.

New England's SEIU 1199 Political Director Katie Traber takes us on a policy rollercoaster ride through Connecticut’s 2019 legislative session, in a special extended edition of #Dial1199 with Shirley and Garth. You won’t believe how much our members accomplished in Union to improve the lives of working people. So fasten your seatbelts and press play now!

Standing up for their demands in Union, some nursing home caregivers in Connecticut are getting wage raises as high as 14-30% through the year 2021, improvements on their benefits package and better working conditions to provide quality care. Bonnie Gaudreau, a Licensed Practical Nurse with 29 years of experience working in Connecticut nursing homes, talks with Shirley and Garth to share her story of fighting in Union with #SEIU1199 New England.

UConn Health operates the last remaining public hospital in the state of Connecticut, pumping $1.5 billion per year into the state economy. UConn John Dempsey Hospital also provides unique services for vulnerable populations, as well as training and research opportunities for our future caregivers. District 1199 members from UConn Health's dental department speak up against the ongoing speculation of privatization. Over 4,000 union members in the UCH Labor Coalition say "Keep Our Public Hospital for the Public Good."

With Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature, the Fight for $15 is officially state minimum wage law in Connecticut. But the fight for a living wage and a Union continues. Hear the story of SEIU 32BJ, one of many Union organizations that stand up for better wages for all working people. Guest Juan Hernández also comments on taxing the rich to stop the “squeeze” on middle class families.

The Young Adult Services program is all about helping young people to overcome mental health and addiction issues with a proactive approach. Rafael Irizarry, mental health assistant from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, explains why YAS is one of the best investments we can make as Connecticut taxpayers to protect our future generations.