Maria Mini, BSN-RN

I support Katherine Wallace for President/Principal Officer of Local 2024 because my support comes from my own experiences working with her and seeing how she responds when nurses bring concerns forward.

Katherine has always made herself available when I have reached out to her, and she gets back to me quickly. As a nurse, that matters. When you bring a workplace concern to your union, you need leadership that listens, takes you seriously, and helps you determine what to do next.

One experience in particular showed me how important that can be. I raised a concern involving radiation safety and the lead protective equipment we use while working with X-ray. Katherine took my concern seriously and helped connect me with Ian, our Radiation Safety Officer. That connection allowed the concern to reach the appropriate person for further investigation, and the issue ultimately led to a nationwide recall.

To me, that experience represents what effective union leadership should look like. Katherine didn’t need to have every answer herself. She listened, recognized that the concern warranted attention, and helped connect me with someone who had the expertise and authority to investigate it. What began as one nurse speaking up ultimately became something much larger.

Going forward, I want Local 2024 to be a union where nurses feel comfortable raising concerns and know their leadership will listen, respond, and help them find a path forward. Our members deserve leaders who are accessible and connected to the nurses they represent, not only during organizing and bargaining, but in the everyday situations that affect our work and our safety.

My experiences with Katherine have shown me that she is that kind of leader. She has been there when I have needed her, and I have confidence in her ability to lead Local 2024 and continue building a union where nurses know their voices matter.