District 1199C Announces Key Leadership Change: Henry Nicholas Assumes New Position as President Emeritus, Chris Woods Selected as New President of District 1199C

PHILADELPHIA (October 21st, 2019) – Today, Philadelphia’s largest union of healthcare workers is announcing a change in leadership. Long-time President Henry Nicholas has assumed a new position as President Emeritus. Executive Vice President Chris Woods, in accordance with the Union’s By-Laws, has been confirmed by the Executive Board to serve as District 1199C’s new president.

“I’m honored to have the support of our Executive Board to be the next leader of District 1199C,” said President Woods. “We are all deeply grateful to President Emeritus Nicholas for his decades of service to our union, and we look forward to his continued involvement as President Emeritus.”

President Emeritus Nicholas previously served as president of District 1199C, president of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees, and Vice President of AFSCME International. He joined his first union in 1959 as an employee of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. After relocating to Philadelphia, President Emeritus Nicholas organized one of Philadelphia’s first unions for hospital workers. He is widely recognized as a  legend of the labor movement.

President Chris Woods, a Philadelphia native, is a long-time union activist. He previously led the Union’s Hospital Division, which includes Temple University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and many other large employers. He grew up in the union, as his grandmother worked at Hahnemann University Hospital and brought President Woods to union meetings even as a child. President Woods also serves as the Executive Director of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees.

District 1199C represents over 13,000 workers in the healthcare industry.