In Memory of Rosa Luna, Our SEIU-UHW Sister
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of SEIU-UHW healthcare hero Rosa Luna to COVID-19. She passed away on May 4, 2020 at the age of 68.
Rosa was a dedicated EVS worker at Riverside Community Hospital for 25 years. She was one of the first people to step up and fight for her fellow coworkers as a steward.
Rosa’s greatest joy was spending time with her family. She was an avid gardener and anything she grew flourished. She is survived by her daughter Dora Reaza and her two grandchildren, Rubie Reaza and Oscar Artero.
Rosa’s death reminds us of how exposed to COVID-19 our brothers and sisters in EVS are every day. Our fight to keep ALL healthcare workers safe continues in her honor.
Her coworker Ray Valdivia had these words to share: “Thank you for your service, friendship, and most of all your conversations. Your fight may be over, but rest assured ours has barely begun.”
A collection is being taken to support Rosa’s family with funeral expenses. Click here to contribute.
REP. MAXINE WATERS: “We love you and we honor you”
U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters held this Zoom meeting with three of our fellow SEIU-UHW members this week — and she had a message for every one of us: “You are the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. I know you’re seeing things you’ve never seen before. But you keep going.”
She also took the time to hear the gritty details of our work during this pandemic. We shared with her our grueling shifts, our lack of PPE, and our work easing the suffering and fear of our patients. Rep. Waters listened to us and committed to continuing to do everything in her power to support us — including fighting to secure maximum resources for caregivers in all federal relief packages and ensuring that our communities follow the safety measures needed to minimize infections and deaths.
Rep. Waters signed off with a heartfelt message to all of us: “On behalf of my entire district, on behalf of my colleagues in Washington — we love you and we honor you.”
HOUSING ALERT: Airbnb Program Extended Through June
We now have access to temporary housing through Airbnb until June 30. Through this program, SEIU-UHW members in good standing have access to a limited number of no-cost lodgings so we can self-isolate between shifts. Click here to learn more and apply.
LET’S ROLL: New SEIU-UHW Member Portal Gives Us Unprecedented Access
We’ve launched the MyUHW Community Portal on our webpage, which gives us unprecedented access to union and job resources that are personalized for each one of us. Click here to access this wealth of resources — or go to our SEIU-UHW website homepage and click the “MyUHW” button.
