“Being in a strike line is different. You have to be a person that someone can rely on.”
As a gastroenterology technician, Elenita is the last face a patient at Maui Memorial Medical sees before their procedure and the first face they see when they wake up. Her passion for serving as a calm voice in trying times has come in handy in her union activism, especially on the strike line.
“We need to fight for working class people.”
“It’s so gratifying how much better things have gotten.”
“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing people use those services”
“When we come together, we make a bigger impact.”
“My job is to help you and get you what you really want and deserve.”
“So many times they have been trying to do cut downs or they just want to disappear [the program].”
“I know that I have a job I can come back to.”
“Having a union job in which I’m paid well and have the benefits that I deserve, it’s affirming that I have a life with dignity.”
“All I knew was this gentleman needed help, and he needed someone to say it would be okay.”
“If I had still been at a family-owned shop, I would have ben back to work the next day”
“My coworkers and I were elated….we were able to topple the giant.”
“We fought back and won a temperature settlement.”
“They so carelessly stole time from people.”