January, 13 2010, 12:54pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Christy Setzer 202-730-7349
The Tragedy in Haiti Calls on Each of Us to Act
Statement of SEIU President Andy Stern on the Devastation in Haiti
WASHINGTON
Today,
the Service Employees International Union released this statement by
International President Andy Stern on the devastating earthquake in
Haiti:
"The
whole world is watching the devastation in Haiti following yesterday's
earthquake with horror, compassion and desire to act.
"This catastrophe calls on each of us to do what we can to ease
suffering and help the survivors get past this tragedy and rebuild
their lives.
"The Service Employees International Union, both as a home to a large
Haitian population with family directly impacted and as the largest
union of healthcare workers in North America, will support efforts to
help Haiti recover.
"SEIU is developing a relief initiative, Help Haiti,
to direct donations from our members, our locals and the general public
to effective respite and aid organizations once a needs assessment has
been completed. At this time, we are asking that people direct their donations to the International Relief Fund of the American Red Cross. Please check SEIU.org over the next few days to learn of other ways and organizations that you can help.
"At the same time, SEIU Healthcare members - nurses, personal care
assistants, doctors and others - are mobilizing to determine the types
of direct support needed by the people of Haiti. We are coordinating
with federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and the service
and relief communities and we are recruiting healthcare workers for
possible deployment once more information is known.
A tragedy of this magnitude knows no borders. SEIU will stand by our sisters and brothers in Haiti - and we will do all we can to help.
To give to Help Haiti, click HERE.
With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.
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Watchdog Urges FEC to Investigate Trump Campaign Over Scheme for Legal Fees
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A campaign finance watchdog on Wednesday filed a Federal Election Commission complaint accusing former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, affiliated political groups, and an accounting firm of violating U.S. law in a scheme "seemingly designed to obscure the true recipients of a noteworthy portion of Trump's legal bills."
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Trump—who is the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee—faces 91 federal and state felony charges related to his role in the January 6 insurrection and his organization's business practices. He is currently on trial in New York for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payments to cover up sex scandals during the 2016 election cycle. The twice-impeached former president has been open about his use of campaign donations to pay his legal costs.
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Two journalists on Tuesday questioned Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, about the administration's response to the hundreds of bodies found at Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as well as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk's call for an independent investigation.
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