LONGMONT, CO (October 7, 2015) – Sharon Davies, a Longmont resident, member of the Executive Board of Service Employees International Union Local 105, and licensed practical nurse (LPN) at Kaiser Permanente Colorado Longmont Clinic was selected to attend at the Summit on Worker Voice as a representative from the Second Congressional District by Congressman Jared Polis.
“I’m thrilled the White House is actively courting and listening to the voices of Colorado workers,” states Colorado Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). “Congratulations to Sharon – she will bring a depth of experience in employee relations, management, and workers’ rights and will represent our state with distinction.”
The summit is comprised of 220 seasoned and emerging leaders from across the country taking action in their communities to lift up workers’ voices. All share a commitment to making their workplaces more fair, productive and prosperous. The White House and the U.S. Department of Labor invited groups of workers, labor leaders, advocates, employers, Members of Congress, and state and local officials. Individuals will participate in conversations that highlight the relationship between worker voice and a thriving middle class.
“Davies has been a front-line health care professional for most of her life,” said Stephen Cousins, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105 Healthcare Director in his nomination remarks. “As a front-line health care professional at Kaiser, Sharon helps keep Boulder County healthy. She treats everyone from children to seniors, and does so in an increasingly volatile and uncertain environment for healthcare workers.”
“I’m fortunate enough to keep my dog in kibble,” states Davies. “A long time ago, a family could live off of minimum wage and employers gave fair increases. We all work had and we need good jobs, fair wages, leave, health care, cost of living raises for all workers.”
In addition to being a full-time care provider, Davies serves on the Executive Board of SEIU Local 105 and is a leader with significant responsibilities in Kaiser’s unique Labor-Management Partnership. Kaiser Permanente and 28 local unions across the country participate in the Partnership based off of a shared set of interests to maximize patient care outcomes and experiences while making sure that Kaiser’s workers are represented.
Davies also sponsors the Primary Care Area Leadership Team. The Team is a group consisting of regionally differentiated front-line care workers and union members, Kaiser Managers, and practicing physicians. The team operates as a Consensus Driven work unit, discussing things like designing work processes, setting goals, reviewing team performance, making budgeting and staffing decisions, and using Interest-Based Problem Solving to proactively identify workplace issues.
“I became a nurse to help people.” Davies hopes to inform Summit participants and politicians about the daily struggles of working families bringing to light struggles families face. “I don’t think employers or politicians really grasp worker struggles. Some working parents have employers that don’t recognize that child care providers won’t accept a sick child so the employee has to take a sick day. There are so many workers without the benefit of sick or vacation leave.”
