AFSCME Member Action Saves Florida’s Jackson Hospital

by Joe Lawrence  |  July 11, 2012

MIAMI — The rapid mobilization of Local 1363 members and community supporters spiked a hasty attempt to privatize the entire Miami-Dade Jackson Health System.

Thousands of jobs and health care for those who need it most were at risk by the Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force chairman’s last-minute proposal that would have opened up the entire system to privatization. Chairman Rene Garcia’s plans were derailed at the June 20 task force meeting by an outpouring of opposition that the Miami Herald noted included those “in green Jackson union T-shirts.”

At a June 26 follow-up meeting – the last one for this year – the measure was voted down.

Chief Steward for Jackson Memorial South Deborah Wilson attributes the victory to the fact that “members refuse to back down… we won because we fight not just for ourselves, but for everyone who needs health care.”