Public Employee Press

Local 420 members climb the career ladder

In two graduation ceremonies this fall, union members at the Health and Hospitals Corp. completed six-week training courses and took dramatic steps up the career ladder. On Sept. 25 at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, 70 graduates received their certificates and moved up to the Patient Care Associate title.

And at Bellevue Hospital on Oct. 9, 108 Nurses Aides completed their course to become Patient Care Technicians.

“We want you to continue going forward with your education,” said Togba Porte, vice president of Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 during the graduation ceremony at Bellevue. “Go on to become Licensed Practical Nurses or Physicians Assistants if you can.”

Viviana Tillman, associate administrator of the DC 37 Education Fund, also encouraged the new graduates to pursue higher education. “This is not the end,” said Ms. Tillman at the lunchtime ceremony. “It’s the beginning of a journey in the health care professions.”

“It was a lot of work and very stressful,” said Rosemary Carillo, who has worked at Bellevue for four years. “But it was well worth it.”