AWARDS

Health Care Professionals Member of the Year

Anne Goldman

Federation of Nurses/United Federation of Teachers

In 1978, the American Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, a NYSUT/AFT umbrella group, was formed to bring better representation to health care workers. An early pioneer in that effort was Anne Goldman from the UFT/FNHP.

At a time when nurses could be told to scrub floors instead of caring for patients, Goldman, a registered nurse at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, led the search for a union to meet the nurses' needs. Goldman chose the teachers union for the strong bargaining and structure that allowed the nurses to maintain their autonomy.

In 1979, after long and often tense hearings with the National Labor Relations Board and hospital management, the nurses voted overwhelmingly for the UFT/FNHP in a representational election. "It was a horrible time, and when we look back we all say, 'Where did we get the nerve to do this?'" Goldman said.

Goldman's leadership as an advocate for health care professionals, both at UFT and on behalf of health care professional members statewide, is unparalleled in NYSUT. Serving as chair of the NYSUT Health Care Professionals Council since its establishment, she has led the way. She gathered health care members from all fields and work settings - from hospitals to visiting nurse services, from school buildings to research laboratories - identifying professional and legislative initiatives, enhancing the health care lobby day and working with council members and NYSUT staff to create professional development opportunities of interest to the entire spectrum of NYSUT Health Care members.

Goldman also is the first NYSUT Health Care Professional member to serve on the NYSUT Board of Directors, appointed to represent her constituency by President Tom Hobart in 2002.