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.
April 1st, 2010
NUHW RNs at Kaiser make more progress on staffing issues
Leila Valdivia, RN, Kaiser LAMC“We’ve gotten more done with NUHW and Kaiser in 2 months than we ever got done with SEIU and the LMP in the last 2 years.” On March 25, 2010, NUHW Stewards from Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center met with Debra Grant, Chief Nursing Executive, and received concrete commitments to improve […]
March 31st, 2010
In These Times: SEIU vs. NUHW week one: plaintiffs make case, without evidence
By Carl Finamore
Is it unlawful for locally elected union leaders to vigorously defend their members even when in sharp conflict with the international union? This is the real issue posed. Allegations of fiduciary malfeasance only shroud widely differing concepts of union democracy. In that sense, this is fundamentally a political trial and not about misappropriation of funds.
It all started a few years ago, when UHW expressed disagreement with the international union’s proposal to unilaterally remove 65,000 long-term healthcare workers from the local without the approval of these affected workers.
Opposition began to fester because SEIU President Andy Stern sought to transfer these UHW members into a local headed by his close ally, Tyrone Freeman, who was widely thought to be corrupt and ineffective at improving workers’ wages and benefits. (Freeman is now under criminal investigation by federal authorities and has been removed from office.)
March 27th, 2010
Recorder: Bad blood boils in union battle
Trial pits rebels against the SEIU
In the coming days, one of President Obama’s closest labor allies could take the stand in a fierce trial pitting the Service Employees International Union against a rebel breakaway.
But there’s a bit of a backstory between SEIU and the lawyer who would cross-examine SEIU President Andrew Stern.
Daniel Siegel, a politically active attorney with Siegel & Yee in Oakland, represents the National Union of Healthcare Workers. NUHW split off from SEIU last year, the culmination of a public struggle between Stern and NUHW President Sal Rosselli. Rosselli savaged Stem’s leadership, while Stern accused Rosselli’s local of financial improprieties, eventually imposing a trusteeship.