Renee Gestone Setteducato was proud to accept the NYSUT Health Care Professional of the Year award on behalf of her fellow nurses.
"With the backing and support of UFT, NYSUT and AFT, our nurses are a force to be reckoned with. We stood up against the monster that wanted to take our pension plan away," said Setteducato, a nurse at Lutheran Hospital and a UFT member who fought off threats against nurses' pensions. "Had we not had the power of our union behind us, the employer would have laughed. Instead they shivered."
She urged delegates to "wake up" in light of the Kentucky River decision by the National Labor Relations Board that categorizes nurses as supervisors if they direct employees in any fashion. Next, she said, they will be after teachers, SRPs and unions.
Setteducato thanked her daughter, husband, sister and family "who helped my daughter understand why mommy wasn't home at Christmas or at bedtime - she was caring for someone who was too ill or injured to care for themselves."