And meanwhile...

Readers report that SEIU have deserted Kaiser faclities in their desperation to hold on to Fresno homecare workers...

"Near as I can tell - there is NO UHW representation in ANY facility. Here at Bellflower KP - they're calling me. Jesse Smith, Elma Maynard and Erika Gutierrez are no where in sight - and don't return calls. I'm advising DFRs. Now I hear Linda Temple is back - and is 2nd in command at the Ferguson Local! And all the Kaiser paid contract specialists are in Fresno!"


And...

"I was looking for some stewards to assist me in a grievance and found out that the KP South San Francisco Stewards council is nothing more than a shell now. 3 stewards remain to represent 1500 workers. WTH hell is SEIU doing? Management is running out of control and our National is leaving us defenseless."


And...

"We were told quite some time back that the medical secretary/transcription positions would be either eliminated totally, though that was later modified to "you will be editing more than transcribing and we just won't need as many of you". We were given a time frame of late 2010 to mid 2011, and that likely only 2-3 positions would be deployed.

We are now getting hints that this may be sooner than later, but we have not heard one single word from the Purple People Eaters, other than "the contract we negotiated will protect you for at least a year". But our manager is dropping hints that we should step up school and whatever else it is we are doing, as she seems to think they will try to get us out with 30 days notice (illegal..has to be 60 days minimum).

The only thing we are concerned about is SEIU bugging out on the terms of the contract, where we have guaranteed income and/or transition work for one year , then get severance if nothing is offered by then. The doctors are still being told that they plan to keep most of us; the managers are telling us differently (though one of my coworkers who has been there 30 years thinks they are doing that so they will have less people they will have to transition).

I have also heard through the grapevine that SEIU is declining Educational Assistance applications left and right, so makes you wonder if they have looted that fund.

I am also hearing that members requesting representation for disciplinary actions are largely going unrepresented, as no one seems to be available. Henry J would be spinning in his grave if he could see what has happened to Kaiser."


You're dropping the ball SEIU, and that Kaiser election is coming up fast!