Why it's not OK that Andy Stern and Anna Burger lead SEIU.

By reader Debbie Murphy...

SEIU, it is not ok that you mismanaged the members' dues and now have to lay off 75 hardworking, dedicated and very talented staff. Nor is it ok that you force your locals staff to pick up the slack from your shortage of manpower. It is also not ok that you continue to charge your locals exorbitant per caps while giving them nothing in return.

It is not ok that you now are in debt to the largest union bank in the country and have leveraged union members' dues to do it. It is not ok that you raid other unions and try to split others apart. It's is not ok that you force staff to interfere in the business of other locals and threaten their jobs if they don't.

It is not ok for you Anna Burger Sec/Tres., to say "Layoff the people we need to get rid of" nor is it ok for you Andy Stern Pres,. to say "Democracy is an ugly picture sometimes" No SEIU, it is not ok to demoralize your staff, nor is it ok to buy "your" way into the White House.

Just like Wall Street, you, the leadership of SEIU have become a shameful example of greed and egotism. Your own personal images are more important than those that you serve. You have wiped away without a single tear, years of goodwill and respect for a union that "others" built beneath you.

SEIU's image and 75 staff now must struggle because of your inept actions, all the while you run the media circuit and glorify yourself as "the greatest union leaders in the world".

If you truly cared about those you serve, Mr. Andy Stern and Ms. Anna Burger, you would resign your posts and give the union back to its members.

Remember the "members" Mr. Stern and Ms. Burger??

Debbie Murphy
Union Staff Network

(I have been an activist for over 25 years with the LGBT community, political and issue campaigns and labor unions. Most recently I worked for the SEIU staff union, Union of Union Representatives as an organizer. I believe that union staff are oppressed and intimidated much like many of the workers they help to organize. It is because of this I speak out against union leadership who put their own needs ahead of their union members.)