Scores of RNs to Protest Schwarzenegger's Special Election at Corporate-Sponsored Conference on Women Thursday



Schwarzenegger Returns to Scene of Infamous

'Kicking Butts' of Nurses Comment

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 25 -- The California Nurses

Association, along with local teachers and other working women, will lead

protests against Arnold Schwarzenegger's upcoming special election outside of

the corporate-sponsored Governor's Conference on Women this Thursday, October

27th.

What: RNs Rally to Stop Arnold

Where: Long Beach Convention Center, Pine @ Bay

When: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 27

Press Conference: 8 a.m.

Rally: 10 a.m.

Additional protests subject to last minute changes.

Last year's Governor's Conference on Women marked what many viewed as a

turning point in public perception of Schwarzenegger after he dismissed nurses

protesting roll back of patient safety standards as "special interests" and he

boasted that he was "always kicking their butts."

Following that remark, nurses across the state began a series of

protests, targeting the governor's almost-daily fundraising from large

corporate interests. Nurses were also eventually joined by teachers,

firefighters, and a broad spectrum of the public.

"Schwarzenegger has a history of arrogant and offensive behavior towards

women and has extended that by attacking female-dominated professions,

including nurses and teachers," said Deborah Burger, RN, President of the

California Nurses Association.

"Widespread public outcry against Schwarzenegger's policies ignited at

this very convention last year, and we are here again to encourage

Californians to vote NO in November -- to turn out and vote NO on all of

Arnold Schwarzenegger's corporate-backed propositions."

CNA said it will also contrast the role of RNs, real working women and

men who overwhelmingly oppose Schwarzenegger's policies, with the

corporate-sponsored convention.

This year's event is sponsored by many of Schwarzenegger's closest

corporate backers, such as Ameriquest, Safeway, PG&E, and Merck, and also

includes a number of new corporate allies, including British Petroleum,

Northrup Grumman, and Raytheon. "Schwarzenegger is using the event and the

participants as props to support his package of initiatives that are intended

to hand more power to the governor and his corporate backers at the expense of

nurses and other Californians," said Burger.



SOURCE California Nurses Association

Web Site: http://www.calnurses.org