National Nurses United, a union representing nearly 170,000 nurses across the United States, launched a new video this week in support of legislation to create a financial transaction tax. The video is a Twilight Zone-style parody wherein a Wall Street banker keeps running into more and more victims of the crimes he committed that cost people their jobs and homes. Several of the victims call for a financial transaction tax to be implemented, which is the ultimate message of the stylish and humorous video.

As previously reported, a financial transaction tax...

is a tiny pinch that would be felt primarily by high-volume, high-speed traders who deal in stocks, bonds, foreign currency bets, derivatives and other Wall Street financial products.

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With a tax of only a fraction of a penny, we could raise billions to create jobs, lay the groundwork for long-term economic prosperity and help reduce the national debt. The Robin Hood tax also would discourage risky Wall Street speculation and encourage longer-term investments that would strengthen rather than endanger the economy.

NNU is one of many organizations calling for the tax to be passed. Supporters of the campaign can sign the NNU petition or contribute to help air the video on television.

When I think of nurses, I think of caring. I think of hard-working people who, despite being spread increasingly thin, do so much for the patients under their care and get relatively little in return. That's why I love California Nurses Association and National Nurses United. They not only demand reasonable concessions on patient care, they also demonstrate in favor of public policies like a Wall Street transaction tax.

Yesteday thousands of their members walked picket lines, joined rallies and sent a message to employers that RNs will not accept reductions in patient services:

At a boisterous rally at Sutter Alta Bates Thursday morning, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka praised the RNs as “the last line of defense for patients” and excoriated the corporate assault by Sutter. “They disrespect you by attacking your healthcare, your retirement benefits, your right to advocate for patients, and now they want to force you to work when you are sick. Having sick nurses care for sick patients is sick.”

Trumka said it was 23,000 nurses taking a stand, but that they were joined by “millions of patients” and had the support of working people across the country.

“When nurses are on the outside, there’s something wrong on the inside,” said CNA Co-President DeAnn McEwen at the rally. She called the sweeping concession demands by Sutter “drastic, unwarranted, and unconscionable. They’re harming patients and we’re standing in the gap.”

“Nurses will never be silenced in standing up for our patients and our communities, or our members and our families,” says Children’s Oakland RN Martha Kuhl.