Healthcare delegates urged to use the power of their collective voice

Members of the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals division were encouraged to use the power of their collective voice to advance the resolutions they want to see adopted at the AFT 2026 convention in Washington, D.C., during their divisional meeting July 16.

"In healthcare, we have to activate our voices," said Anne Goldman, who is co-chair of the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals program and policy council and United Federation of Teachers vice president for non-DOE and private sector members. "When we're together, we are unstoppable."

Goldman reminded delegates that the union's strength lies not in unanimous agreement, but in members' willingness to engage with one another and speak up.

"The way you do the work here is to understand how to interact, how to speak to issues, respect each other and motivate each other," she said. "We all don't agree on everything, but … the momentum and power of this union is what allows us to add our voice."

Delegates also heard from the AFT's political department, which called on members to help the union mobilize 200,000 voters ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for delegates to reflect on the past two years of organizing and advocacy while setting priorities for the year ahead as the union continues its Code Red campaign. Working in small groups, members shared recent victories and identified strategies to strengthen their locals and improve conditions for healthcare workers and patients alike.

Affiliates from across the country highlighted successes ranging from contract gains to legislative victories, including safe staffing ratios in Connecticut, mental health education initiatives in Alaska, workplace violence protections in Ohio and more than $500,000 recovered through grievance arbitrations in New York.

Looking ahead, the delegates identified key goals for their affiliates, including launching organizing and bargaining campaigns to secure enforceable staffing standards and comprehensive workplace violence protections through contracts and state legislation, increasing member engagement, and expanding staffing ratio protections across all units and departments.

"It was great to hear everybody talk not only about their wins but also about their goals going forward," said John Brady, co-chair of the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals PPC and AFT Connecticut vice president. "I think the fact that we are so many independent locals across the country in a federation that allows us to work together and learn from each other gives us a chance to experiment with different solutions."

The meeting ended on a celebratory note with a "solidarity slam" where delegates used creative expression to inspire one another and reinforce the unity needed to continue their work.

[Adrienne Coles/Photo credit: Pam Wolfe]