This week, we interview two badass nurses, Tristin Adie and Elizabeth Lalasz, who are on the cutting edge of one of the most dynamic sectors of the labor movement. Tristin is a nurse practitioner at University of Vermont Medical Center and one of the rank-and-file leaders of a recent two-day strike by members of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Elizabeth is a nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a member of National Nurses United, who helped organize the #RedforMed solidarity campaign with the Vermont strike.
Tristin and Elizabeth talk to us about the daily pressures facing health care workers who face the crushing daily pressure of being responsible for patients’ lives even as understaffing and budget cuts make it harder to do their jobs, what the collision between providing quality care and the priorities of a for-profit health care system look like from the inside, and why nurses are increasingly turning to unions and strikes.
In our opener, Eric discusses his experience traveling to Berkeley as part of a counter-protest against a far right rally, and Jen talks about her experience the same weekend defending a Planned Parenthood clinic from bigots at a local church.
Special thanks to John Snowden for producing this episode.
Music in this episode:
The Boy & Sister Alma, “Lizard Eyes” (Dead Sea Captains Remix)
Social Distortion, “Don’t Drag Me Down”
Elvis Costello, “Night Rally”
Billy Bragg, “Help Save The Youth Of America”
Peggy Lee, “Fever”
Fugazi, “Waiting Room”
Aretha, “Respect”
Rebel Diaz, “Which Side Are You On” (remix)
