Pennsylvania's Leading RN Association Joins CNA/NNOC, Nation's Largest Nur...( OAKLAND Calif. Jan. 10 /- The Pen...),Health

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) is joining the nation's largest union of registered nurses, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (AFL-CIO), leaders of both organizations announced today.

With the affiliation, CNA/NNOC will now represent more than 80,000 RNs in all 50 states. PASNAP has some 5,100 members.

CNA/NNOC and PASNAP have been two of the fastest growing unions in the U.S. with a stellar growth record. In the past decade, CNA/NNOC has grown by more than 370 percent. Since 2001, CNA/NNOC has gained more than 30,000 new members. PASNAP has a similar record of growth, boosting its membership by 40 percent this decade.

"By joining forces with CNA and the National Nurses Organizing Committee, Pennsylvania nurses will benefit from the resources and expertise of the most dynamic and effective professional nurse unions in the nation," said PASNAP President Patty Eakin, RN. "When the collective voice of nurses is strengthened, the main beneficiaries are patients and their families."

"We are thrilled to welcome the dynamic members of PASNAP into our growing movement of direct care RNs," said Zenei Cortez, RN, member of the CNA/NNOC Council of Presidents.

"We have a long and proud history and a close working relationship with PASNAP, and a shared mission on the most fundamental issues for RNs," said Cortez. This mission includes "increasing the power of bedside nurses, promoting the health and well-being of patients against the erosion of patient protections, strengthening RN standards, winning RN-to-patient ratios, and transforming our healthcare system."

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney also greeted the news. "The AFL-CIO is delighted to welcome the PASNAP nurses into the AFL-CIO through their affiliation with CNA/NNOC."

"With such deep problems in health care and such tremendous challenges faci
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