Letter to the Editor

Health Care workers need real rest and lunch breaks.

Often their breaks are interrupted because of short-staffing in their workplaces. Often a tech or a nurse will find themselves working for 10-12 hours with only a couple of bathroom breaks and a short 15 minute snack.

A proposal to require their employers to provide uninterrupted breaks would ensure that people get a full ½ hour meal break plus 15 minutes every 4 hours worked. This is one of UFCW 21’s priorities in the 2012 State Legislature. Our union has teamed up with other unions and community allies to support this commonsense proposal. We are still fighting an up-hill battle and we believe Hospitals should support giving uninterrupted breaks to their workers. These breaks allow the staff to be as focused, rested and careful as possible. Instead the State Hospital Association was strongly opposed to the bill.

If you are a health care worker (or another member who wants to support your fellow members) and feel it is the right thing to do to assure that hospital workers get these breaks, consider writing a letter to your local paper. Let them know what you think.

Letters to the Editor are one of the most widely-read sections of a newspaper and a powerful way to deliver a message to thousands of readers and decision-makers.

Tips for Writing Your Letter

A letter-to-the-editor is a rare chance to have your exact words read by a wide public audience. Because newspapers receive thousands of letters and they only publish a handful each day, your letter needs to stand out of the crowd. Following these 7 tips will increase your chance of getting your letter printed.

Be personal. Say how and why the issue affects you and your family.
Be opinionated while being reasonable and showing respect for others.
Be timely. Relate your letter to something that is in the news right now.
Be real. Quoting legal language or policy studies can cause eyes to glaze. Effective public outreach uses common sense language. People care about their homes, health, jobs and loved ones as well as basic American values of freedom, integrity and accountability.
Be creative. By using a counter-intuitive argument or an interesting or humorous turn-of-phrase you will catch the editor's attention.
Be focused. It is a waste of limited time, space and energy to repeat your opponent's point of view.
Follow the rules. If you limit your letter to 200 words and include your name, address and day time phone number, you will comply with most paper’s rules.