SEIU Healthcare Workers Appeal During Super Bowl for Free and Fair Union Elections in Boston Hospitals

While the Patriots took on the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, Massachusetts healthcare workers took on the hospital CEOs trying to prevent them from voting freely in fair secret ballot elections to form unions. During Sunday's game, Boston hospital workers took to the airwaves in their efforts to unite for a voice in protecting patient care and improving jobs for working families.

As a Super Bowl and New England Patriots sponsor on CBS radio affiliate WBCN, the healthcare workers of 1199SEIU raised awareness during 10- and 30-second spots that free and fair union elections for hospital staff mean better care and good jobs for the whole community.

Hospital management has sometimes waged expensive campaigns of fear and intimidation against Boston caregivers who have tried to form unions in the past.

"Everybody's talking about the presidential campaign, but what if your boss told you how to vote and who to vote for?" the ad asks. "What if your boss could fire you if you didn't vote their way?"

The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU were also the exclusive sponsor of injury reports and injury updates throughout the broadcast.

"This was a chance for us to tell our story,” says Jason Depina, a lab technician at a Boston hospital and a Pats fan. “As people listened in to learn about the health of their favorite Patriot players, we got the chance to ask them to support the people who take care of their health and who deserve a fair shot to form a union."

TO HEAR THE ADS, CLICK HERE.