Inside the UNAC/UHCP Convention: A Frontline Perspective - Part 1

From left to right: Sanne Jacobsen (CRNA), Joe Guzynski (UNAC/UHCP Executive Director), Jeff Cathcart (CRNA), and Danny Bell (CRNA)

By Dr. Danny Bell, DNP, CRNA

Democracy in Action

UNAC/UHCP is the first union I’ve ever been a part of. My dad was a small business owner, and none of the hospitals I’ve worked at before have had unions. Before last year, when I heard “union,” my mind directly conjured up caricatures of angry middlemen who take money out of my pocket without truly knowing my practice or representing my values. As I became more informed, I realized the incredible diversity of unions out there. Some fit that caricature; however, UNAC/UHCP does not.

I had the opportunity to spend three inspiring days with thousands of our union brothers and sisters at the biennial UNAC/UHCP conference. From the moment we first stepped into the conference center, it was easy to see the power in representation. Dozens of groups of health care professionals were represented from all across California and Hawaii. Some of these “affiliates” were composed of thousands of nurses, while others had a few dozen therapists. But big or small, each affiliate shared a few things in common:

• Pride: They were proud of their affiliate and their profession.

• Engagement: They were eager and excited to contribute to the strength of the larger UNAC/UHCP union.

• Voice: Their voices mattered.

Throughout the weekend, there were multiple examples of the democratic process that UNAC/UHCP utilizes to pass bylaws, make amendments, vote people into leadership, and make decisions about where our union’s resources and effort should be focused. While anyone who knows me knows of my unabashed passion for the nurse anesthesia profession, I saw firsthand the interprofessional strength that will grow as we continue to build our affiliate. This is a union of healthcare providers for healthcare providers, led by healthcare providers. A union where I am proud to belong.

Click here to read Part 2 of the series.