Sanders gets endorsement from nurses union in presidential bid

OAKLAND, Calif. – The nation’s largest organization of nurses has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders.

This is a big boost to Sanders’ bid for the White House. After all, the National Nurses United (NNU) represents about 185,000 nurses from California to Florida.

Ninety percent of the union is comprised of women and a big number are Filipino.

The nurses chose to support Sanders because of his positions on trade, minimum wage and expanding social security and Medicare.

“The way you push forward a progressive agenda, the agenda we have talked about today is when millions of people stand up and they say to the Republicans you got a choice,” said Sanders. “You are going to vote for a national health care system or you’re not going to have your job. I need you, the trade union movement, and millions of Americans to tell the United States Congress you know what, you’re going to start reflecting the needs of the American people and not just wealthy campaign contributors.”

The NNU says they sent out questionnaires to all democratic and republican candidates and asked all of their members to vote on their candidate of choice based on the answers they provided on pressing issues.

Sanders came out on top with a seven to one margin compared to Hillary Clinton, who came in second.

Fil-Am registered nurses at the rally stood by Sanders because they say he will improve patient care by getting more funding for healthcare through taxing billionaires.

“His platform speaks for the nurse’s values,” said Gus Mata. RN. “This involves healthcare for all, Medicare for all. He is standing for equality for all, education for all, and equality in taxation for all.”

“It’s not enough that we as registered nurses remain at the bedside,” said Zenei Cortez, RN and president of the California Nurses Association. “We need to fight for what’s fair for our patients and communities.”

According to a recent Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus poll Sanders comes in with 24.7 percent support among likely democratic primary voters and the former secretary of state Clinton, the frontrunner for the nomination, leads at 50.7 percent.

However the 73-year old continues to gain support as a tens of thousands of people gathered in Los Angeles to hear him speak last night.

Some say Sanders have no chance of winning the nomination. But his supporters have faith his momentum will increase especially with the support of everyday people.

“Most of the people in this room unless I’m mistaken are not millionaires or billionaires but they love this country and they’re prepared to fight for this country and they’re prepared to get involved in a grass root movement,” said Sanders.” I think we’re going to bring millions of people into that movement and I think that’s how we’re going to win this election.”

After today’s meeting, the National Nurses United has pledged to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign for the presidency making them the first national union to do so.