IT HAS BECOME fashionable to disparage labor unions as self-interested and hostile to the public good. Perhaps a word or two about the United Nurses & Allied Professionals, Rhode Island’s largest health-care union, might help to dispel this misconception.

The UNAP has over 4,500 members, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, technologists, technicians, therapists and other allied health professionals and support staff who work in hospitals, long-term care, home care and mental-health-care facilities. The UNAP is committed to improving the quality of life of our members as well as our patients, and we demonstrate that commitment daily.

In the UNAP, the interests of our members and our patients are aligned. When employee satisfaction increases, so does patient satisfaction. Workplace-safety innovations protect patients and employees alike. Appropriate staffing levels translate into safe, good patient care.

In recent years, the UNAP has worked diligently and successfully to reduce the risk of injury to patients and caregivers by:

• Promoting “needleless” systems that reduce the risk of infectious diseases.

• Advocating safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

• Ending the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime.

• Initiating “safe patient handling” programs that reduce the risk of injuries while lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients.

• Advocating safer and “greener” hospital products and by-products.

The UNAP has also been a leader in the search for solutions to the impending nursing shortage. Rather than simply rely on importing nurses from other parts of America or the rest of the world, the UNAP enlisted hospitals, educators, community organizations and funders to create the “Stepping Up” program, which is providing training, education and career counseling to let our own entry-level employees and unemployed neighborhoods residents pursue a career in health care.

UNAP leaders and members are engaged public citizens. We advocate legislation to expand access to health care for all, preserve our not-for-profit hospital system, scrutinize health-insurance-company rate increases, ensure care for the needy, and set professional standards for health-care providers. We participate in coalitions with environmental organizations, women’s organizations, human-rights organizations, labor organizations and other health-care advocates. We send e-mails, make phone calls, write post cards, distribute literature and talk to our co-workers, friends, family and elected officials about important health-care issues. We serve on countless committees without any additional compensation.

The UNAP also does charitable work. Our UNAP Children’s Hospital Fund raises money to provide supplies and activities for hospitalized children. A soothing sound-system for the pediatric MRI machine at Hasbro Children’s Hospital is just our latest purchase. We provide annual scholarships to the college-bound children of our members. We participate in health fairs throughout the state.

And, yes, we negotiate contracts, file grievances, if need be, and even walk picket lines occasionally to make certain that the health-care workers who care for you are treated with the respect, fairness and appreciation that they deserve as well. This is just some of what unions do. On Labor Day, and every day, it is worth noting.

Rick Brooks is the director of the United Nurses & Allied Professionals. Linda McDonald is a registered nurse and president of the United Nurses & Allied Professionals.