Nurses Speak Out Against Lead Poisoning, Call for Strengthened Laws
NYC Health+Hospitals/ Harlem NYSNA nurse leader Marion Parkins, RN, testified against lead poisoning in a New York City Council joint hearing from the Committee on Housing and Buildings and Committee on Health. She called for strengthening laws to safeguard Black, brown and Asian children in low-income communities from the disproportionate impact this environmental hazard has on them. Marion made the case that H+H nurses need a strong contract so that they can continue doing the quality work of serving these communities. Marion also linked the working conditions of H+H nurses fighting for pay parity and safe staffing in their contract fight right now. H+H nurses are the safety net and are the ones who serve these environmental justice communities that are low-income communities of color. NYSNA nurses honor Earth Day and Earth Month by advocating on behalf of our patients and community.
Environmental justice is racial justice is health justice!