President Nicholas led the first strike of hospital workers in America–45 days in 1959 in New York citywide. He was so committed to victory he slept in the headquarters throughout the strike, showing his passion and conviction even as a rank and file member.
In the five years he was a volunteer organizer, Henry never lost an election.
He organized St. Barnabas in the Bronx.
Then President Nicholas organized Johns Hopkins and five hospitals in Baltimore.
President Nicholas then went to Charleston, South Carolina, the heart of the Old South to organize and lead a strike of hospital workers. After all 400 workers voted unanimously to strike, they went out and stayed out for six months.
In the course of the struggle his hotel was blown up in an attempt to kill him. He spent weeks in an open air jail living on grits and water, but President Nicholas stayed on after the strike to start the civil rights movement in Charleston and elect several African-American public officials including Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus James Clyburn.
After Charleston President Nicholas went to Baltimore, then on to Philly where the national union was founded in 1972, and he was elected the first secretary-treasurer.
President Nicholas led strikes in Uniontown, Pittsburgh, Temple Mt. Sinai, Jefferson and Waterbury, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Cleveland, Ohio.
President Nicholas has participated in one way or another in virtually every major hospital strike in America.
One of many sacrifices he’s made over the years was to leave his chemotherapy treatment fighting cancer to fly cross country to lead a huge organizing campaign in San Diego for six months.
Brothers and sisters, the man, the icon, the legend–our President Henry Nicholas.
Image source: www.nathanielturner.com