January 15th, 2013
My SEIU story (VIDEO)
Last year, SEIU-UHW officials gave away our retiree health coverage to their friends in Kaiser management. Then they let Kaiser lay off 1,000 of our co-workers. My name is Leslie Suderno and I’m one of those workers. This is my story: I have worked 34 years for Kaiser and I feel that I’ve been a […]
January 10th, 2013
Why I am resigning as an SEIU steward and supporting NUHW-CNA
I have been a steward for many years because I have always believed in protecting our rights in the workplace. I am writing to you today to inform you that I have resigned my position as shop steward for SEIU-UHW. Since the trusteeship I have watched SEIU-UHW transform into an organization controlled by leaders more […]
January 8th, 2013
Healthcare Finance News: Two California labor unions join forces
Two California labor unions join forces
January 7th, 2013
Huff Post: Health Care Worker Unions Team Up In California
Dave Jamieson, Huffington Post
Two major health care worker unions entered into a formal affiliation in California on Thursday, arguing that they could better fight concessions sought by hospitals and health care companies in contract talks if they joined forces.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and the California Nurses Association (CNA) will now jointly fight what they describe as declining workplace standards in the industry, officials with the two unions told The Huffington Post. The NUHW, which was created four years ago after a split with another union and now includes 10,000 members, has found a significantly larger partner in the politically powerful CNA, which represents 85,000 nurses in the state.
“Some of us in both organizations, for decades, we have had this goal to form a national health care union,” said Sal Rosselli, president of NUHW. “This affiliation, we believe, will make it come to be.”
The affiliation comes at a time when the two unions have been engaged in high-profile fights with the health care companies Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, as well as public spats with another union, the Service Employee International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU). NUHW and the nurses association have accused SEIU of being too friendly with the industry and too conciliatory to employers during contract talks.
January 7th, 2013
San Jose Mercury News: NUHW affiliates with powerful California Nurses Association
OAKLAND — In a move expected to shake up health care labor battles statewide, the powerful California Nurses Association announced Thursday that it will affiliate with the National Union of Healthcare Workers in fights with major health systems over wages, benefits and patient care issues.
CNA also agreed to use its 85,000 members and considerable resources to help NUHW in its campaign to defeat a large rival, the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, in an upcoming election for the right to represent 43,500 Kaiser Permanente service and technical workers.
That election, which may happen this spring, will be a repeat of a 2010 election, which was the largest union election in the private sector in nearly 70 years. At that time, Kaiser workers voted to remain in SEIU.
“This is an affiliation whose time has come,” said NUHW President Sal Rosselli during an Oakland news conference with CNA leaders. “When we win this Kaiser election, it will be a game changer.”