April 9th, 2010
Labor leaders and elected officials vow to appeal limited award in SEIU’s lawsuit against union reformers
“Tens of thousands of healthcare workers are organizing with NUHW for a real voice at work and a democratic voice in their union, and that will continue in spite of this verdict. These reformers stood up for workers’ right to vote when SEIU tried to take it away, and that’s the only thing they’re guilty […]
April 9th, 2010
Labor and elected leaders vow to appeal limited award in SEIU’s lawsuit against union reformers
Twelve defendants cleared, but jury orders other former SEIU staff to repay salary and costs because they resisted orders from SEIU’s Washington, D.C. office
SAN FRANCISCO—SEIU’s lawsuit against 28 union reformers came to an end today, with SEIU’s central claims abandoned, twelve defendants cleared of all charges, and a judgment that amounts to a tiny fraction of SEIU’s own legal costs.
“Tens of thousands of healthcare workers are organizing with NUHW for a real voice at work and a democratic voice in their union, and that will continue in spite of this verdict,” said United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, who raised money for the reformers’ legal defense. “These reformers stood up for workers’ right to vote when SEIU tried to take it away, and that’s the only thing they’re guilty of. This judgment sets a bad precedent and the Fund for Union Democracy is committed to supporting an appeal.”
“Watching this trial has made me so proud to be part of NUHW,” said Brenda Washington, an LVN at Grove Street Convalescent who attended the trial. “Our elected leaders took an oath to represent the members who elected them, not SEIU officials in Washington, D.C. They did exactly what the members asked them to do. They knew SEIU would target them personally and they still had the courage to do what was right.”
April 9th, 2010
SF Public Press: Rival union vows fight after SEIU wins verdict
By Christopher Cook
In an interview a few hours after the verdict, Rosselli said he and NUHW are undaunted by the ruling.
“Their goal was to destroy NUHW, and they failed,” he said. “They wanted us to walk away from NUHW, that’s what this is all about…this will go on for more than a year before they can try to see a dime of NUHW money,” Rosselli added. He noted that NUHW’s attorneys will ask federal Judge William Alsup to set aside the verdict. Otherwise they will press on to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Rosselli said his foes in SEIU “said I was in jail, they said that I stole $3 million, and it hasn’t resonated…this has the potential to backfire on them. What we got dinged for is fighting the trusteeship, fighting for democracy, and fighting for a voice.”
April 5th, 2010
Beyond Chron: SEIU Works to end unionization for its own members at USC University Hospital
By Randy Shaw
SEIU has long represented nearly 600 workers at USC University Hospital. Now, this longtime leader in health care worker organizing is vigorously working to transform the hospital into a non-union workplace. Julio Estrada has worked at the hospital for fourteen years. The SEIU-UHW member summed up the feelings of many at his workplace by saying, “It’s a shame that SEIU is teaming up with the devil – they’d rather see no union at this hospital than to give members a fair election.” Estrada and other members are furious that SEIU is spending their union dues on a campaign to deprive them of future union representation.
April 5th, 2010
Daily Trojan: Controversy growing at USC Hospital
By LAURA CUEVA
Students and faculty members are protesting the university’s decision to hire a controversial employment consulting firm that many think will influence the votes of USC University Hospital labor workers, who are scheduled to vote on whether to switch labor unions or forgo a union altogether in mid-May.