Housekeeper | St. John's Hospital | Queens, NY
Jagessar Bidishi—better known as Steve to his family and co-workers—came to New York in 1995 in pursuit of the American dream. In his native Trinidad, Steve was a corrections officer. In the United States, after a few years he was able to obtain a housekeeping position at St. Johns Hospital-Queens. He has been working there now for 9 years.
In 2005, he learned of the Union's Citizenship Program and was encouraged to take the classes. "1199 inspired me to become a citizen and has given him the opportunity to get the things I need to have a fulfilling life," Steve says. He is extremely appreciative of 1199s efforts to help working class people. "The Union deserves to be recognized for the work it does to benefit the members and their families."
The Citizenship Program--a joint effort of the Benefit and Training Funds--gives members and their families the assistance they need to make it through the process, offering citizenship classes for participates who are non-native speakers of English as well as classes on civic knowledge. The program also helps prepared members for the INS interview and exam.
"Because of the program, my wife and I were able to become citizens," Steve says. The process took them nearly six months and they successful completed the process last May. He feels that was only made possible because of the Union staff's dedication and commitment to the members. "They go above and beyond to do everything they can to help you," he says.
