SEIU buzzwords explained!

To "Stop the Politics" this Friday, let's take a minute to try to make sense of it all. Sometimes it feels like as the week goes on, the jargon piles up on Perez, email after embarrassing email! What do words like "Metric" and "Silos" even mean? What is "The Table"?

So here's a brief guide to SEIU buzzwords, many of them sent by an attentive reader (thanks!). Submit your own to the usual address, and Perez will try to keep this list updated on its own page...

Now updated with reader submitted (and unverified) SEIU corporate speak, and examples of how words are used in a sentence!

(Left - a device designed for Member Input)



The Ask
Old, but still used: something you get a politician to do.
"So, we have a meeting with him set up for Monday, but what's the ask?"

Blitz
Brief, high intensity, highly staffed campaign. Usually done at the beginning or end of an election, but sometimes done solely to train staff.
"We should identify a couple of nursing homes we can blitz next month."

Buckets - The latest, a form of silos.

Buy to grow - A deal done with pension money to make organizing easier or irrelevant.

Drill down - Favorite corporate expression for a while.

Gets it
Less formal alternative to "On program".
"We should have Diane make the call, she gets it.

Immortals (the)
Stern appointed local officers. The term is used by local managers, particularly at one West Coast local.

Justice for All - You're with us or you're against us.

Lock and load - Ready to launch a campaign.

Member Engagement - keeping members busy so they don't cause trouble.

Member Input - Customer feedback, always comes after sweeping changes are finalized.

Member resource center or MRC
The SEIU call centers.
"Uh oh, I just got another complaint about the MRC"

Metric - Meaning unclear, but this must be used at least once by a dedicated staffer.

On program
Supports the strategy as presented by SEIU leadership. Can refer to a worker, staffer, or potential supporter like a politician. "Off program" is used just as frequently to mean the reverse.
"If we can't get Joe back on program, we just can't have him at the stewards' meeting Saturday"

Outsiders
Others in the labor movement who disagree with and question SEIU's strategy. Often used on mailers and lit.
"Don't let outsiders attack our union..."

Purple Kool-Aid
SEIU staff are often called "Purple Kool-Aid drinkers" by others in the labor movement because of SEIU's "strict" internal culture and attitude of superiority (it's a reference to the Jonestown Massacre). The term appears here because SEIU staff often call each other the same thing. One reader defines Purple Kool-Aid as "What everyone else drinks".
"Did you see Dan in that meeting? Ugh, what a Kool-Aid drinker!"

Quality Care
Who could argue with that?
"Healthcare workers are coming together to stand for quality care across the state of Florida"

Ramping up - What you do after you have stepped up!

Rebalancing - Something SEIU needs to do.

Right-sizing
Layoffs.
"Looks like there's going to have to be some right-sizing at Workers United soon."

Silos - Compartmentalizing (something SEIU staff do very well)

Smoke and mirrors
Making it look like you have much more support for a campaign than you do.
"So the cards aren't moving as fast as we hoped, but I think we can get by with smoke and mirrors."

Stepping up
Asking staff to do more than they are already doing.
"Your team are going to have to step up if we're going to make this blitz happen."

Strange bedfellows
Bad employers or Republicans.
"Bringing together strange bedfellows to win real healthcare reform."

The Table - An interest group, usually developed by SEIU.

Think outside the box - Very old, was used so excessively it became a joke.

Touching base
Used either to play it casual and conceal your actual reasons for a meeting, or when you know you should talk to someone, but you don't want to!
"We really should touch base over the weekend about what happened with David and that rental car"

Value add - The extra incentive given to the boss to sweeten a deal, eg lobbying or (according to one reader) pension investments.
"But what's the value add for them? We should set up a call with political..."

Worker piece
The section of a campaign that involves building worker support (or the illusion of worker support).
"How will this billboard effect the worker piece?" "Who cares? The shareholders hate it!"

"Working Conference on Innovation and Quality"

Remember that Public Sector meeting we were talking about? Well, no word yet on the details of the new dues increase, but here's a report from a reader on the rest of the thing...

"So... the conference was interesting to say the least...

Annelle Grajeda's speaking time was kept to a minimum. Someone really clamped down on her ability to be seen at the podium.

Burger and Stern made their appearances (hat waving, Yankees coach-style.) But the room was really... I dunno. I mean, Bruce Boccardy from 888 was there and had to be in groups with folks from 1021, 721, etc. There was a concerted effort to keep people penned and "on message" but you can't stop people from talking to one another.

I watched this kid from Local 500 during mealtime try and talk up 888's work in getting a new executive board off the ground, and saw the laser-like eyes bore into him from other people at the table! Interesting how we're all about love and celebrating during the "conference" but yet you can't even mention the "past".

And then there was a weird moment where they held a kind of emergency meeting with some upper level staff about the situation with UNITE HERE, specifically about a deal being reached!"

All the usual suspects...

This email from an NUHW volunteer and former Kaiser employee to Kaiser Permanente labor relations gives a pretty good snapshot of Zombie UHW's M.O. there these days. It's not very subtle, and it's not very smart!

-----

From: Kathy Baca
Subject: Bellflower July 21, 2009 incident
To: Arlene Peasnall
Cc: Cristina A Saucedo-Garcia
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 8:15 PM

Arlene, Christina

As a former Kaiser Employee of 34 years and a member of Local 399 and UHW I have never in all those years experienced the unprofessionalism of Union Staff that I experienced last night at Bellflower. When I was employed by UHW we were required to be respectful and professional in the workplace.

On Tuesday July 21, 2009 I was sitting with a few members having dinner in the cafeteria when approximately 25 SEIU members/staff/contract specialist entered the cafeteria, they all proceeded to sit down and mock us. Their behavior was that of aggression, and intimidation. This is a behavior that has been allowed by Kaiser at all facilities, UHW has cart blanche when it comes to being in the workplace in pacts causing disruption not only in the cafeteria but in patient care areas.

I asked one of the security guards if H.R. had been contacted as that is what SEIU-UHW Reps usually do when I or NUHW supporters are gathered, John Rochin replied, " I have a good relationship with H.R. and I already called them." My understanding was that Christina was on vacation but the Reps have the numbers for the other H.R. Consultants and did not call them, if they had I know H.R. would have been present as they always have in the past. It was evident that Jesse Smith and the other Staff Reps did not want H.R. present to see the harassment, intimidation and fear tactics that they were using.

John Rochin started yelling at me, and one of the members sitting with us (Eleanor Mendoza) got up and told John to stop yelling and then verbally started to attack her, we asked her to please sit down and not allow herself to be baited by them, she was so upset that he would verbally attack a woman. Jesse Smith not once ever tried to intervene and stop John Rochin. As a matter of fact he never attempted to control any of the staff or members. As a result Eleanor Mendoza, ended up in the E.R. last evening with numbness in her face and arm, the doctor said she was having an anxiety/panic attack. this member has her documentation from the doctor and filed a complaint with security.

As we gathered our food to leave John Rochin started yelling to the members, Losers, Losers, Terry Fernandez ran up to us and put her chest up to us waving her UHW t-shirt in our faces, the security guard asked her to step back, then all the SEIU-UHW starting singing we are the union, and shouting we are SEIU, there were food service members in the cafeteria having their dinner, and patient family members sitting in the cafeteria eating as well.

Also, a lost time member from Sunset (nickname Tree) stood in front of a member who is now working as a volunteer for NUHW and said to him " You better not be talking shit, and then proceeded to say to him I am going to kick your ass". This member (Tree) was pacing in front of our table the whole time that we were in the cafeteria. Again, intimidating and fear tactics.

As we were leaving Tree came up to my face, his whole body hovering over me, with maybe an inch in-between us and would not move, I asked security to please have him move but security would not, he just kept nodding his head saying to me okay. This member is over 6ft tall vs my 5ft, he was using it to cause fear and intimidation.

It got so loud in the cafeteria that an evening shift supervisor Pat Villanueva (I believe that is her last name) came into the eating area and asked to keep it low, which of course did not happen but only got louder, especially when we gathered our food to leave, One of the lost timers (Geanice Richardson) ran up to the supervisor to hand her flyer's, and I made a comment, she is a supervisor not a union employee, Pat Villanueva turned around and responded to me, I can take it and read it, (so much for neutrality).

after we left a security guard escorted Eleanor to the security office to file a complaint, when Eleanor was leaving the security office Elma Maynard, and Erika Gutierrez were standing across from the security office with members in the parking structure and the members started yelling that Sal Roselli is a "faggot", Elma or Erika did not ask them to stop.

I am sending this to inform you that all members, or anyone on Kaiser premises be protected from harm and harassment, and if any member/person should be attacked, intimidated, threatened or harmed we will hold Kaiser responsible. Kaiser security is there to protect all.

By the way, I sent an e-mail to you in March regarding the behavior on Kaiser premises at a membership meeting regarding the behavior of Tinesha Thomas that has not been addressed . Yet, when a member files a corporate compliance complaint that is addressed immediately. Seems disparate to me.

I have listed below the names of people that I recognized. Also attached are some photos that were taken and I will send you a video as well when I get it.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Baca
NUHW Volunteer

UHW Reps that were present:
Jesse Smith - Director
John Rochin - Bellflower
Elma Maynard - Baldwin Park
Erika Gutierrez - Bellflower
Terry Fernandez - Sunset
Ernesto Rodriguez - Panorama City
Kristy Correll - OC

Contract Specialists;
Nancy Stengel
Sylvia Favaron
Brenda Tippins
Edna Clayton

Lost-timers/members
Darrell Jerome - Orange County
Mary Corson - Panorama City
Marguerita ? - Regional
Gloria Moller - Baldwin Park
Genice Richardson - Bellflower Satellite
Tinesha Thomas - Bellflower

Others who I do not know

Old school friends.

It's no secret that Dave Regan and Eliseo Medina aren't exactly best buddies, but they seem to be able to steer clear of each other most of the time. Not so their respective factions! Dave brought some of his East Coast team with him, and well, readers say they're just like Dave!

"The Fresno office is in even more trouble now. A staffer named Carlos told everyone in the meeting that he is not there to "kiss no one's ass", not Dave, Andy or Eliseo, and he is not afraid of anyone! He got in a big fight with Eliseo Medina and Eliseo got so mad that he told him to fuck off in Spanish!

Dave Regan brought this guy from New York. He's riding in a rental car while other members ride in a bus, and getting a private hotel room at the Marriott.

There's a big fight for positions in Fresno, and everyone knows Carlos thinks he is the boss. He's been fighting with Lisa for a director position, other staff members had to intervene between them and almost called the police it was getting so nasty. Then Carlos quit the leadership committee and won't participate.

This guy is dirty, he did so many illegal things in Fresno. Through the whole election he bragged to everyone that he would call immigration on Spanish speaking workers. Shame! With that and that there is no Spanish speaking rep for the homecare workers it is no wonder people are saying that Dave and his staff don't like Latinos."

Perez gets a lot of emails like this, and a lot of stories about Dave and Eliseo. Nothing much about Mary Kay Henry though, as apparently she's back in Washington DC full time, doing what she does best!

Welcome...

To our new readers from Politico!

And here's Michelle with the mop...

After Professor Nancy MacLean writes back to Javier's "spam" email to tell him (along with many other things) that she would be willing to meet with Andy or Bruce but does not want to hear from Michelle or Jo-Ann, Michelle goes right ahead and tries to explain it all away anyway! She just can't resist throwing in a little snark though..

Update: By request, Perez notes that this exchange was posted without the prior knowledge of Nancy MacLean.

-----

From: Michelle Ringuette
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 12:04 PM
To: Nancy MacLean
Cc: Javier Morillo
Subject: Re: Open Letter Regarding the SEIU-UNITE HERE Dispute

Professor McLean-

I just want to apologize for what Javier accidentally forwarded to you. My tone was flip and I was tired, as it had been a very long few weeks. It was in no way meant to convey the contempt that you suggest here, but I certainly see how it reads that way.

When it was suggested to me that Workers United workers were interested in reaching out directly to signers of the letter, I agreed that it would be a good thing for the workers to be able to speak their mind. Many are frustrated that their struggle has been mischaracterized. I would rather that workers take on employers (the high value target, in my lexicon) who are exploiting this situation, but I respect that they should be free to tell their stories to people who have weighed in.

To your point, I recognize that you are not interested in receiving more emails from us that show that many people want to see this dispute resolved. I am sincerely interested, as I understand that what we do looks like "spin", in how we can share more information with you and others who are committed to the labor movement. I recognize that the barrage of emails feels like spam, hence my snarky use of the term, but I am sincerely at a loss as to how to address your real concerns stated below.

Again, I apologize for what reads like dismissiveness. I would be most interested in listening, not talking, if you wanted to follow up on this.

Sincerely,

Michelle Ringuette

202.341.7057

Sent from my iPhone


On Jul 27, 2009, at 11:24, "Nancy MacLean" wrote:

Dear Javier Morillo,

Thank you for your response to my sending of the “Open Letter of Concern about SEIU’s Interference in UNITE HERE.” I welcome your acknowledgment that it is a good thing for faculty supporters of the labor movement to be concerned about the serious trouble it faces at the present moment and appreciate your openness to dialogue. I was taken aback, however, by your mistaken assumptions and patronizing tone. You also, by the way, inadvertently sent along an internal SEIU email chain with the union’s communication officials that disparages signers of our letter and tries to reduce our concern to “misunderstanding.” (That chain appears at the end here).

You are wrong to assume that I and other organizers of this effort believe that the conflict between SEIU and UNITE-HERE is “a simple story of good guys and bad guys” and that we failed to do “research and fact-checking” or try to get SEIU’s side of the story. We understand that there were complicated issues involved in the intra-union conflict in UNITE HERE and that no leaders of large organizations will have flawless records. At the same time, we understand the moral difference between acts committed in aggression and those committed in self-defense. What our letter expressed “concern” about was SEIU’s divisive intervention in a dispute that otherwise would have been addressed by a constitutional, democratic process internal to UNITE HERE. And we well understand, as do others observing this conflict, that Workers United would never have been viable without the monies provided by SEIU and the practical assistance of SEIU organizers on the ground. I and others have read literally reams of documents now from both sides, including the internal memo from the Workers United Chief of Staff which speaks of the need to “manifest the reality of a rival union in the hospitality industry.”

You accuse me and other signers of failing to respectfully listen to your organization’s side of the story. This, too, is untrue. Before our Open Letter of Concern went out, the organizers of the letter and a number of other labor historians had a long meeting with SEIU International Vice-President Tom Balanoff. There was a frank and not unfriendly exchange of views. While all of us respect Tom’s long history of dedicated service to the labor movement, his rationales for Bruce Raynor’s actions and SEIU’s conduct were unpersuasive. They deepened our concern rather than alleviating it. I personally also heard the New England UNITE HERE Joint Board Manager Warren Pepicelli speak very movingly about being party to high-level SEIU/Workers United strategy sessions wherein the planned (and since executed) attack on UNITE HERE was laid out in all its ugliness, in a way that prompted him to a painful break with friends and allies of a lifetime to stay with UNITE HERE because of the principles involved. Others in our group had discussions with people like Mark Levinson and Joshua Freeman.

We have of course also read the e-mail postings from Andy Stern and Bruce Raynor. But we don’t think they tell the full story; indeed, they distort the truth. On the crucial issue of continuing raids in the HERE’s traditional jurisdiction, public NLRB petitions and other reports make it clear that the SEIU claim that it has “ceased all hostilities and incursions” “back in April” belies the on-the-ground reality.

Which brings me to the last point. You seem to have accidentally sent your letter to me in an email string of internal conversation between yourself and SEIU Director of External Communications Michelle Ringuette and the union’s “strategic communications” expert Jo-Anne Mort. That exchange spoke as crudely and instrumentally of your own members (e.g. the plan for “setting a few workers loose” on us) as it did of the faculty signers of the letter (described as “labor notes types” who “aren’t high value targets” but who can be easily ‘guilt-trip[ped]” by “reminding them how isolated they are...from the world of policy, politics, and activism” through spin-control letters and meetings).

However SEIU’s Executive Board chooses to label us, the truth is that the faculty who organized and signed this letter have long been your supporters and allies, and have used every occasion possible–until recent events-- to hold up SEIU (along with UNITE HERE) as the best hope of the labor movement and of our country as a whole on most of the pressing policy challenges we face. We have done this in our scholarship (I myself in two books and numerous articles), in our public lectures to community as well as academic audiences, in our relations with foundations and public officials, and in our teaching and mentoring of students, which has brought you many a staff member and student ally.

You need to know that we are not as clueless and unconnected as your e-mail exchanges imagine. We are not only well-informed about SEIU’s involvement in the UNITE HERE controversy, but also about what many of our colleagues see as a disastrous trusteeship at UHW in California. Due to the choices of its leadership, SEIU really is in danger of losing the good will and long-time support of hundreds of pro-labor progressives, in the academy and out. I cannot believe this is an outcome you want.

The letter organizers would be willing to meet with Andy Stern and Bruce Raynor (cc’ed here to facilitate this), a meeting Bruce Raynor already suggested to Nelson Lichtenstein. We are not interested in speaking with either Ringuette or Mort, having seen the posts below. And, in any case, the point would be to discuss the issues with those who have devised and executed the strategy, not those who merely spin it. In that Mort has depicted us as “labor notes types,” however, we might well want to invite the meeting some actual Labor Notes types and others vitally concerned with the current situation.

As the organizers of the Open Letter of Concern, I, Jen Klein, and Nelson Lichtenstein look forward to hearing whether your leaders are interested in such a meeting in Chicago or New York. Now that we have direct lines of communication, it won’t help SEIU’s cause to continue to bombard signers of the Open Letter of Concern with misleading posts, as seems to be the current plan from Michelle Ringuette’s contemptuous assertion that the signers of our letter “all bought spot on our spam list.” Continued spamming would constitute a breach of the good faith on which productive dialogue depends.

Sincerely yours,
Nancy MacLean

"Really not worth it"?

A reader writes to note that Jo-Ann Mort, the communications consultant partly responsible for yesterday's academic email fiasco, is paid $1,600 a day for her services to SEIU!

That's more than President Obama earns, and it's more than many SEIU members are paid in a month! That email was worth every penny of dues money though for sure...

According to SEIU's annual filing with the US Department of Labor, SEIU paid $315,687 to Jo-Ann Mort's consulting firm, "Change Communications," during 2008. And Jo-Ann and Bruce Raynor go way back apparently - her profile on her firm's website says that she was director of communications for Unite and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, "the predecessor unions to Workers United, an affiliate of SEIU."

Blind item...

Looks like it's official "stupid email day" on Perez...

Which newish Zombie UHW manager must have been on autopilot when he admitted in writing that the local was indeed a hostile work environment?

This high flyer apparently needs a crash course in employment law after exposing his zombie overlords to a payload of liability!

Say what you really think!

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear... For anyone still wondering what's really behind the SEIU mask, here's an ugly glimpse courtesy of Local 26 President Javier Morillo-Alicea, consultant Jo-Ann Mort, and repeat Perez star PR hack Michelle Ringuette!



In the process of sending a "spam" email (their words not Perez's) to academics who signed an open letter about SEIU's raid on UNITE HERE, it seems these three stooges accidentally included some emails that were less ready for prime time!

-------

[Dear academic/s]:

I received today the “Open Letter” you mailed to me regarding the dispute between my union, SEIU, and UNITE-HERE. I believe you should have received a response that rebuts some of the claims in that letter from SEIU. I have included it below in case you have not seen it.

I did want to reach out to you directly and thank you for taking the time to write. As a former historian who left the world of academia because I was frustrated by the insular nature of the U.S. academic world, I am always happy to see university professors engaging with the world of organizing, politics, and policy. I mean that sincerely – I truly believe that our country would be a much better place if the world of talented researchers, thinkers, and writers were in constant, vibrant communication with the Labor Movement.

I am, of course, nonetheless disappointed in your letter not because I feel you should not be engaged in debates going on in the labor movement -- again, I applaud that – but because you and the other academic signatories to that letter, I believe, signed onto a set of arguments without doing some of the research and fact-checking you require of yourselves when producing work in your own fields. I won’t provide an extensive “our side of the story” in this email; the letter below addresses some of the more important aspects of our view of the dispute.

I will say, however, that I am honestly saddened that, even though in your letter you and your colleagues proclaim yourselves as “sharing SEIU’s progressive ideals” and as having “marched with its janitors, security officers, and nursing home workers,” that you would not pay those workers the respect they deserve by talking to them, to their union, about this situation before deciding that this was a simple story of bad guys and good guys, with our member-driven union in the role of the villain. As a historian whose work intersects the histories of race, gender, and the social constructions that create them, I am certain you are aware that rarely is historical reality as simple as a story of heroes and villains.

Finally, I want to say that I have taken the time to write this out of respect for who you are and what you do. Although I am no longer a historian, I am w ho I am today because of the work I did as a researcher, writer, and teacher. I write in the spirit of opening a dialogue that could avoid misunderstandings such as this one and which, much more importantly, can bring us together to do the important work we all believe in: creating a world with more justice for everyone.

Best Regards,

Javier Morillo-Alicea
President
SEIU Local 26


July 23, 2009

Dear Professor ******:

For the past several months, the dispute between UNITE HERE and Workers United/SEIU has consumed attention and resources at a time when workers all over the US and Canada need us to do everything we can to fight for them. It is clear this conflict is helping employers and hurting hardworking women and men. This must not continue.

Recently, you signed a letter weighing in on this matter. We are concerned that you may not have been told all the facts, so we want to share some background with you.

SEIU and Workers United have repeatedly called for UNITE HERE to join us in putting the interest of all our members first by resolving the issues between our unions. We must bring this conflict to a swift resolution for the sake of the workers.

As you may be aware, there have been a series of accusations and mischaracterizations made about SEIU by UNITE HERE over the past few months. SEIU called for a “cease fire” back in April, and we honored our commitment to détente. We have ceased all hostilities and incursions on UNITE HERE locals. However, last week at UNITE HERE’s convention, President John Wilhelm used a statement of solidarity condemning inter-union raiding signed by 15 leaders in the labor movement­a letter we would have signed ourselves­to attack SEIU. President Wilhelm was quoted in the New York Times accusing SEIU of trying to “hijack” his union. He has mobilized individuals such as your self to sign on to general statements for his political use. And recently, he has made very public and untrue allegations of “raiding” activity despite refusing to submit evidence and engage in Change to Win’s procedures to resolve charges of raiding.

If John Wilhelm truly believes that SEIU is engaged in “raiding” activity, why will he not bring evidence or charges forward for a hearing?

There should be no confusion regarding SEIU's and Workers United’s position regarding UNITE HERE, but we will again make clear where we stand:

• SEIU has accepted the framework proposed by UFCW President Joe Hansen, and we stand ready to let President Hansen arbitrate this dispute. SEIU would honor the results of binding arbitration.
  
  
• SEIU accepts that hotels and gaming are the core jurisdiction of UNITE HERE, and we accept Joe Hansen's recommendation on food service being a core jurisdiction for SEIU. We have said to President Hansen and President Wilhelm that SEIU is not interested in raiding UNITE HERE members or organizing hotel or gaming workers generally. Both UNITE HERE and SEIU in previous discussions with Joe Hansen made requests for limited exceptions in each other's jurisdictions based on unique circumstances. SEIU believes that the arbitrator should develop a principle that applies equally to these disputed food service and hospitality workers and we should all live by the results.
  
  
• SEIU is not raiding UNITE HERE, and UNITE HERE must end its attacks on Workers United/SEIU and its raids on our members. SEIU called for a "cease fire" last April and we have honored our commitment. However, while we stood down, UNITE HERE escalated its strategy of attacking Workers United members and leaders, interfering with bargaining, and asking employers to escrow dues. For example:
  
  
  • UNITE HERE organizers have been attacking California laundry shops since December 2008. While thousands of California laundry workers are fighting right now for strong contracts for themselves and their families, employers like ARAMARK are using UNITE HERE's interference to refuse to schedule bargaining dates. Please see Attachment #1 for actual leaflets distributed by UNITE HERE.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE has contacted more than 1,600 Workers United Employers and urged them to escrow dues and deny access to union representatives. At Atrium Windows in Texas, the company used this to deny manufacturing workers access to health and safety records that workers need to protect themselves from unsafe working conditions. Please see Attachment #2 for letters sent by UNITE HERE asking for employers to escrow dues and cease bargaining efforts with Workers United.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE is sending organizers into Workers United locals to disrupt bargaining. In Philadelphia, 2,500 Workers United members who provide school breakfast and lunch to students cannot get the school district to negotiate with them despite the fact that their contract has expired because UNITE HERE sent in 20 organizers to challenge their rights to bargain. Please see Attachment #3 to read a letter from the Philadelphia School District explaining its decision to escrow dues.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE has encouraged employers to stop bargaining for first contracts at newly organized workplaces. At the Courtyard Marriott Niagara, where a worker had been fired for organizing, workers are still waiting for their chance to bargain a first contract after John Wilhelm wrote to the newly organized hotel and told the employer to stop bargaining. Please see Attachment #4 to read a letter from UNITE HERE Local 274 instructing a Workers United employer to stop negotiations with "SEIU's Workers United."

This cannot and should not continue. Every moment we spend fighting one another is a moment that we are not doing everything we can to:

• bring strange bedfellows like Wal-Mart to the table to deliver bold healthcare reform,
  
• save workers' jobs,
  
• fight unscrupulous employers like Bank of America,
  
• challenge the Chamber of Commerc e for its anti-worker positions, and
  
• stand for justice for immigrants in this country.

We are in the midst of the greatest economic catastrophe any of us has ever witnessed. Hardworking women and men who were struggling before the global financial crisis are taking a hit that will leave its mark long after the economy recovers. Our members’ hard-won gains – their healthcare, their pensions, their very jobs -- are now imperiled by external forces beyond their control. Unscrupulous employers are undercutting wages and benefits and threatening workers who speak out. And at a moment of promise in Washington, our well-funded and highly motivated opposition is gearing up for a fight to the finish.

We have spent our lifetimes working to give hardworking women and men their shot at the American Dream. The opportunities before us in Washington and around the country give us a chance right now to transform our national healthcare system. To make sure our members are part of the economy recovery. To pass the Employee Free Choice Act. In stead, we are at risk of watching everything we have accomplished become undone.

We simply cannot afford to let this happen to our members.

We have asked President Wilhelm to meet with us to end this conflict so that we can all move forward and be part of the solution as we rebuild our national economy. It is time for us to settle the dispute between UNITE HERE and Workers United/SEIU.

In coming days, we will share with you the letters of numerous leaders from the labor and social justice communities so that you might learn more about this dispute. We thank you for your concern and interest, and we hope you will ask UNITE HERE to end this war so we can focus our attentions on winning healthcare reform, employee free choice, comprehensive immigration reform and economic justice for hardworking women and men.

In solidarity,

Andy Stern
President, Service Employees International Union

Bruce Raynor
President, Workers United

Michelle A. Ringuette
202 730 7234 o
202 341 7057 m

www.seiu.org

-----

From: Javier Morillo JMorillo@seiu26.org
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 12:18 PM
To: Jo-Ann Mort; Michelle Ringuette; Jo-Ann Mort
Subject: RE: would love to touch base with you

So here's my thought -- in addition to the general info spam they'll be receiving from now, I suggest we send to each of these academics a brief communication that;

• Shames them just a little bit for signing onto something without knowing all the facts - subtly, of course, while also talking about the productive relationship SEIU and the labor movement have had and should have with academia. I can work on that in a way that also makes the point that theory and praxis can coexist but only when there is open, honest communication (Nothing guilt-trips an academic more than reminding them how isolated they are, in this country, from the world of policy, politics, and activism. It's why I left).
  
  
• Gives a few key facts. I like today's letter from Andy to Willhelm because it hits directly to the charges in their open letter.
  
  
• Most importantly, I think we should invite them to something. We say something like "we have members and leaders across the country. Please give us the opportunity to talk with you about the issues your letter brings up as well as our broader concerns about20the labor movement." We can offer a variety of venues -- one on one meetings, conference calls, etc.

Then we organize these meetings. I do think it's important that we dedicate the time and energy to this. Get leaders and members from each state to volunteer to hold the meetings that are requested (I actually doubt few will take us up on it). It would be more work on the front end, but especially for the more prominent names maybe we have this communication signed by leaders and members from their state.

What do you think?

javier


-----Original Message-----
From: Jo-Ann Mort joannmort@mac.com
Sent: Thu 7/23/2009 7:12 AM
To: Michelle Ringuette; Jo-Ann Mort; Javier Morillo
Subject: Re: would love to touch base with you

I still think we sadly need to target Nelson in a positive way-most of these academics really are not worth it-but spamming them sounds like what they deserve!!


On 7/23/09 8:07 AM, "Michelle Ringuette" Michelle.Ringuette@seiu.org
wrote:

And just to add in here, last night we discussed setting a few workers loose on people and lettling them call some of the academics. I know these aren't high value targets, but I firmly believe people shouldnot be permitted to do drive bys. They are all getting a letter this am and they all bought spot on our spam list.

Michelle A. Ringuette
Service Employees International Union
202 730 7234 w
202 341 7057 m


-----Original Message-----
From: Jo-Ann Mort joannmort@me.com
Sent: Thu 23-Jul-09 3:51 AM
To: Javier Morillo
Cc: Michelle Ringuette
Subject: would love to touch base with you

hey Javier,
I am in Israel until next week but I am also working for SEIU while here. Michelle mentioned that you would like to help out re the academic/lefty mess re WU and SEIU, etc-i would love that!! I can call you from Israel if you want to talk or we can talk on email. I would like to start with you writing something that i can place and then, maybe we should think about you and a couple of other SEIU/WU leaders starting to meet with academics and others on the left to talk about moving forward-in a serious fashion. I just went through that list of 200 academics on the most recent letter and most of them are labor notes types-the ones I picked out whom we need to reach out to are Nelson Lichtenstein (for better or worse...), Jack Metzgar, who is a friend of mine and Mark Levinson's but has been hard on this topic , Andrew Ross, whom I already emailed and Andrew has worked very closely with UNITE in the past on sweatshops, and Jennifer Klein who is close to Nelson I know-and I know you talked to her-she is also a former student of Josh Freeman's- and why Alice Kessler Harris is on this list I don't know-we need to get to her too-

look forward to working on this with you.
best,
jo-Ann

Jo-Ann Mort
joannmort@me.com
Israel phone: (0)547-269-886
US phone: 718-954-0352
skype: jomort

-----

I wouldn't bother inviting anyone to anything if I were you Javier!

Perez will be back to normal Tuesday morning!

Thank you to everyone who checked on Perez last week, and sincere apologies for the gap in posting - it's not for lack of material, that's for sure!

"That's a crime an' a shame!"

It's not too late for some comic relief to "Stop the Politics" this Friday! Please enjoy this footage of Tyrone Freeman and Monica Russo's unintentional stand-up routine from the 2008 SEIU convention.

While in previous years the convention "action" involved actual action (in 2004 it was a march across the Golden Gate Bridge), at 2008's isolated supermax convention, delegates were stuck in their seats reading spam text messages about private equity - a captive audience while Monica and Tyrone yelled and strutted. Of course, just two months later it turned out that Tyrone was involved in some dubious financial schemes of his own! But hey, at least we have the deliciously bitter irony of this video to remember him by!

Many thanks to the reader who sent the (annotated) videos.





Ok, I know I said we could stop with the politics, but there's an interesting twist to this performance, and to the rest of SEIU's private equity fad (sooo last year!). Perez heard from a reader who says he knows someone in the private equity world, and here's what he says...

"I was talking with someone from a private equity firm that works on health care investments (properties, operations , etc). He told me that SEIU sent a delegation to meet with his firm to discuss how SEIU (a labor union?) can get in on this lucrative business. Apparently, the SEIU people were a bunch of morons (couldn't understand any of the investment strategies/packages) and they were completely rude.

My friend and his colleagues were dumbfounded as to why SEIU would want to involve themselves in making money off of health care properties and services. Anyway, the deal didn't happen, but I found it interesting that they were out there prospecting."

Perez thinks they're just inundated with money, and full of themselves with profit!

Bruce Raynor's bad day in court #1

Bad, bad, day for new SEIU EVP Bruce Raynor yesterday, as it came out in court that his lawyer Tom Kennedy had apparently been billing UNITE HERE for the advice he gave Raynor and SEIU on how to raid the union.

Raynor might need to find a new lawyer now, as Kennedy has 20 days to convince the presiding judge that he doesn't have a conflict of interest in the case. Never mind, Andy has plenty of lawyers, maybe he can send Bruce Hands-on-Edgar?

On the same bad, bad, day, the court ordered Raynor and his new SEIU friends to "stop interfering" with UNITE HERE's New York building. All this comes as part of the Gillis vs. Wilhelm case, which relates to Raynor's work to disrupt the operations of UNITE HERE and interfere with its assets.

No one on the right side of the "labor movement" likes to see things go to court rather than be settled by organized workers, but this is a real case of "live by the sword, die by the sword"! And from what Perez hears, it's all just getting started...

Does this sound familiar?

Dear Sister/Brother,

The purpose of this correspondence is to introduce to you an alternative Union for SEIU members who have experienced frustration through poor service, apathy from leadership, inferior collective agreements and a questionable return on Union dues.

A group of concerned Members, Stewards, Chief Stewards, Executive Board Members and Staff Reps have decided the time has come to effect change.

We feel the time is now to initiate change and break away from this big business, corporate model which, for the majority of members has become no more than an ineffective dues collection machine...

But no, it's not NUHW... It's from Canada!

In the past ten days, healthcare workers in Ontario, Canada have begun a member revolt against SEIU, signing cards to leave and join a newly created independent union. Here's what Perez knows so far...

In 2004, SEIU merged six SEIU local unions into a one large local for the Canadian province of Ontario. Andy Stern chose Sharleen Stewart, one of his standard issue appointees, to run the merged local - SEIU Local 1 Ontario.

Since then, Sharleen has apparently driven the local into the ground. Members who used to have the best standards in the healthcare industry, now enjoy substandard contracts, a grievance-handling system that's totally broken, a call center, and a cult of personality surrounding Sharleen.

According to one account, wage rates in some of the local's contracts are so low that workers took home more money when they were non-union and didn't have to pay dues.

So while Perez isn't yet clear what precipitated their decision to get out, members and a handful of former staff set up a new independent union NUHW style, and workers are signing cards to leave SEIU so they can join.

But here's where their story differs from NUHW's... Under Canadian law, workers can switch unions by simply having a majority of workers sign cards or a petition - no opportunity for SEIU to file charges to block their elections. Let's put it this way: if California were part of Canada, then 100,000 UHW members - including everyone in Kaiser, CHW, and at dozens of other employers - would already be members of NUHW, and SEIU would simply be a bad a memory for them.

Of course that doesn't mean SEIU can't try the rest of their playbook on Canadian members, Perez hears that SEIU have dispatched organizers with their usual rap - that workers will lose their wages, health insurance and benefits if they decertify SEIU.

If that doesn't work the (not too far-fetched) rumor is that Andy Stern will try to salvage the mess he created by putting the local in trusteeship. If he does, Perez bets that Sharleen will get a high-paying job at DC HQ just like Annelle Grajeda.

And who would replace Sharleen at the local? Dave Regan? Well no, but according to one report, the front runner for the trustee position is a high-up SEIU staffer who apparently rose to her position after her lengthy affair with newly appointed SEIU Executive Vice President Bruce Raynor.

Isn't it a small world!

The union difference.

Perez had been wondering who SEIU were using to replace all the "laid off" organizers, and how they were treating them...

"I was hired as an OIT for the summer. I am studying labor relations and I thought it would be a great experience. I resigned within 2 days...after I found out I was doing the work of laid off UUR members for half the price. SEIU International is refusing to bargain with the UUR and has already laid off 70+.

I found the overall atmosphere of the place to be so sad...organizers told me this isn't like it used to be and that if they had the chance again, they would not pick a career with SEIU.

(Update) The organizers I worked with were great. They were really dedicated to their jobs. I could have stuck it out for 6 weeks and really boosted my resume, but I am not a scab...my father (LIUNA) taught me better than that. The UUR members were so discouraged at SEIU stance towards them and I found it ironic that we were going to people's houses, convincing them to support SEIU; we told them that SEIU would stick up for them and make their lives better...yet SEIU is actively destroying the livelihoods of 70+ staffers.

Where are these people going to work? What company is going to hire a former union organizer? Are they supposed to tell their new bosses that they no longer believe in what they fought for for years?

An UUR member put it best..."Andy Stern forgot where he came from"

In a bad state.

Sadly, it looks like we can add the SEIU California State Council to the long and growing list of decent labor organizations maimed by the Californiraq crisis...

A reader writes to say that the state council is in "complete MELTDOWN" with local union political staff phoning one another frantically trying to figure out what's going on.

Rumor is that highly respected political operative, and SEIU "rising star" Ali Cooper has called it quits and is "going green" (AFSCME green) to help build their power in California. His departure leaves a gaping hole in the SEIU field program. And then there's the exodus of political director Tracy Zeluff, top lobbyist Mary Hernandez and other field and lobby staff.

Add to that that SEIU's reputation in California is down the toilet in the wake of corruption scandal at locals 6434 and 721, raids on CNA and UNITE HERE, and the UHW trusteeship (no wonder the state council have taken to calling themselves "State Council of Service Employees" in their TV ads) and you have yet another solid labor organization floundering in the wake of The International's corruption and greed.

"My dues dollars..."

Letter from a "removed" UHW steward...

To: The Trustees of SEIU, Greg Moran, Joanie Grieco, and Vickisha Keys Rep chair:

In the recent months since the trusteeship SEIU and its “trustees” (if you can call them that.) have conducted themselves in a less then stellar way. Let me list some of them...

• Promises from Greg Maron to our steward council that I would not be removed. (but I was)
  
  
• Manhandling of stewards and members. (the most recent being Mary Henaghan trying to strangle a member…I could go into Ron Mallory but I don’t have the time nor the fortitude to even go into his laundry list.)
  
  
• Lies to members about our pension.
  
  
• Clearly using scare tactics and screaming Layoffs for Kaiser workers when they have not even indicated they want to go there.
  
  
• Spending millions of dollars on a Fresno campaign that was won by a measly 200 votes. Whos money funded this?? My dues dollars.
  
  
• Mailers to all members in COLOR, or even worse 50 plus pages mailed to all members. Who pays for this? My dues dollars.

But I digress. This is but one of the reasons I write this letter. It has come to my attention that Ms Greco was recently in some work areas TELLING members I resigned because my husband has health issues. Please stop lying to our members. I am attaching a copy of my REMOVAL LETTER and suggest that you check out your information that YOUR employers have given you before you go around talking about someone you do NOT EVEN KNOW. It has also come to my attention that Steward and Rep Chair Vickisha Keys (who is known for being anti-union herself) is also running around telling members that I am “against our union”. I grew up in a very Pro-Union home. My father was very active in the California Teachers Union and a steward. I have never been against unionism. What I am against (and continue to be) is LYING to members, HURTING members, as well as misusing dues dollars.

I do support NUHW and will continue to do so. SEIU has done nothing to convince me that they have the members best interests at heart. I have and ALWAYS will be a steward that looks out for my members and not my own bottom line. Shame to all of the scabs/stewards who have cashed out to enhance their bank accounts.

In Union solidarity,

Tara Gorewitz

Conflict and creativity at Local 6434!

After huge "layoffs", it looks like everyone at Local 6434 is getting creative!

First, here's Local 6434 and Zombie UHW (soon to be one?), getting creative in Sacramento with a great action you can do with just a few remaining staff, some "political artists", and a couple of members!



And then here's current and former staff from the local getting creative on the internet!

Local 6434 is in a bad spot, because while things urgently needed to be put back on track after the Tyrone Freeman years, The International (who installed Freeman in the first place), were the last ones to do it. Reforms at the local need to come from members, not DC HQ, and what's happening now just looks like the same old International union busting and power grab.

One laid off staffer writes...

"Despite hard economic times, it's almost a relief. The atmosphere here is almost tactile: a blend of dread, suspicion, anger and sorrow for comrades who were brutally "laid off" or fired. This is the third round of layoffs which (coincidentally, I'm sure) started once some of the staff, tired of being bullied by Stern's International Henchmen (and Hench-women, too!) had the audacity to want to start a staff union (CWA 9000). I mean seriously, John Ronches (Trustee) and company have used every union busting tactic imaginable.

I've read of other locals being smashed by SEIU but damn, this has been a particularly grisly and brutal campaign! They've done everything but call the Pinkerton's on us. They've used a campaign of intimidation, stone-walling, and unconscionable firings. They have waged a one sided propaganda war against the staff union. John Ronches looked many of us in the eyes, and flat out lied.

They have offered staff, some of whom have up to 17 years of service a severance package of a maximum of THREE WEEKS! I guess good ole Andy doesn't much care, but many of us have left our families, homes and familial obligations, regularly for months at a time, doing the 'members' business and the dirty bastards offer us 3 weeks of severance pay, illegally fire our comrades and hang the threat of further lay-offs to those still trying to serve the membership and eke out a decent living.

No, SEIU didn't have the money to give us a raise or Cost of Living Allowance, but spent 10 million dollars in Fresno only to barely scrape 'buy' with a victory. That stuff about SEIU being the evil empire is not hyperbole. May the Force be with YOU!"

And now Perez hears that members are getting involved (no wonder, as management lay off "member satisfaction" staff and promise a "no service" model), and the situation is turning into a significant fight... Stay tuned!

Sam and Ron on their last warning...

It's a little dishonest, but not uncommon, to lure people to a meeting with the promise of something important or fun (like pizza), only to have the meeting really be about something routine, or dull (like "droning on").

Sam Ogren and Ron Smith however, prefer to do it the other way around! While distributing a flyer for a "pension meeting", members say that Sam and Ron have been quietly admitting to a few members that it's actually a meeting to elect new stewards!

Perpetually confused and frustrated, Sam just doesn't seem to understand unions - a reader reports that last week he approached a former steward and said, "I've never seen a hospital like Marian! How can ten stewards hold a 400 member facility hostage!" Well Sam, it's not helping that you work with new rep Ron Smith, the charmer who was threatening UHW members with an old school ass whipping even before Dave Regan was!

Never a popular guy (never a steward or bargaining team member either!), Perez hears that Ron (sometimes known as "ol' green teeth") did an extra great job late last week...

A reader reports....

"Today Lloyd Taylor was working at Marian West when he was approached by Ron Smith. Lloyd was told in a very obnoxious, loud voice that he needed to leave the facility. Lloyd told Ron that he was working, and attempted to ignore Ron. Ron asked him to step aside and talk to him. Lloyd agreed, thinking it was in regards to a previous phone message left by Ron.

Our "Rep" (and I use the word lightly), proceeded to place himself nose to nose with Lloyd, screaming at him while flipping him off and repeatedly saying "Fuck you Lloyd", not once, but several times. It was loud enough that a man who was having his labs drawn with his three children in tow, heard it. The obscenities sent the lab tech into the hallway to see what the commotion was about and a maintenance employee proceeded to call Security.

Ron proceeded to tell Lloyd to meet him at his house and he would take care of things there. He kept repeating: C'mon Lloyd...You know where I live! Lloyd told Ron there was no way he would meet with him and Ron said "That's because you're a fucking coward."

We don't need or want this bullshit at our hospital! Let it be known SEIU AND Ron Smith, that we will no longer tolerate this behavior! The next time this happens a Police report will be filed! Hal Ruddick... Flannery Hauck... and Paul Matakiewicz, we spoke with you at length when you were here about Ron's temper and lies, and you did nothing! Shame on you!!! You wonder why MMC doesn't want you at OUR hospital? SEIU, your judgment is poor to say the least! We can't trust you to give us a decent Rep. What makes you think we would trust you to ever represent us?

Our Hospital employees are extremely close. Sam and Ron, you never enter our doors without the word spreading throughout that you are here! Employees are called on each floor, and the stewards you fired are called, even at home, the second you enter MMC. We don't like you and we do not want you to represent us EVER!!! We have contract violations that are not being taken care of because no one will deal with Ron. What a shame! Those violations that are taken care of are done by the Stewards that you fired. How many employees have you actually helped, Ron...none! The one you tried to help, got fired! Way to go!

Be warned, that we will file charges the next time Ron harasses anyone again! SEIU....Ron is dangerous to you and to the employees you want to "represent"!

By the way SEIU....Why bother coming to our facility again on the premise of discussing the "Pension" negotiations? It's a waste of our dues! NOT ONE member of our facility spoke to you before (except the one we sent in!) What makes you think it will be any different the second time around? Don't waste our dues money for Sam the Sham and the Ronnette to sit on their asses for twelve hours!

Mr. Cova, pay close attention to what is going on in your Hospital. We have alot of respect for you, and we love our jobs. We have the right to feel safe at work, and right now we do not have that secure feeling. We, the employees of Marian Medical Center are requesting that you intervene!

Hey Ron Smith....Can you spell R-E-S-T-R-A-I-N-I-N-G Order?"

What a great team! Perez is sure everyone at Marian was eager to hear them talk about "pensions" today!

Unity and Love

By Toni Rangel, Pharmacy Tech, Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

While walking through the hospital hallway the other day, I noticed a t-shirt logo that caught my breath. I do not make a habit of reading people's chests but this one caught my eye. It said "Love and Unity." It was a logo for a local ministry.

This got me to thinking about everything that has happened to UHW in the past five months. The number of brothers and sisters that are missing from my life cut me to the quick. The stories I have heard shock and dismay.

As for the new people coming around, I did not trust them years ago, what makes them think I would trust them today? It is the old faces I will never see again that hurt the most. Now that I am no longer "allowed" to go to the local, there will be emptiness in my heart.

On the other hand, the brothers and sisters that are standing side by side with me are the ones I love the most. When the call went out to defend and protect, they are the ones who met me at the gate. We will be united. We will defend our honor. Honor is not a location, it is a state of mind.

Unity, love, faith, honor, my brothers and sisters, we have it all.

Who are you trying to fool?

Remember last week when a long list of union leaders roundly condemned SEIU for raiding UNITE HERE? Well, here's Andy trying to assure the International Executive Board that everything is actually just fine and proceeding according to plan!

It's reassuring, until you remember that AFSCME's president just publicly attacked SEIU for committing "piracy on the high seas of organized labor", and that the president of the Operating Engineers called SEIU "corporate raiders" and Stern "the Darth Vader of the labor movement"!

When SEIU just suffered the "Pearl Harbor of the US labor movement", and is now more isolated than ever, who does Andy really expect to believe that everything is just peachy? He even claims that SEIU itself would have signed the letter criticizing SEIU for raiding UNITE HERE!

Can the IEB really be the audience for this extra myopic attempt at spin doctoring? SEIU members are used to being dismissed with this kind of double speak from the PR department at 1800 Mass. Ave, but Perez didn't realize that Andy tries to use the same BS on the IEB. Does he really think that IEB members are that stupid? Or is he just confident that they have about as much backbone as a piece of warm silly putty?

-----

FROM: Andy Stern, International President
TO: SEIU International Executive Board
DATE: July 7, 2009

RE: Update Regarding Workers United, the UNITE HERE Convention and Our Call for Binding Arbitration

I wanted to give you some background on one issue for our IEB call on Wednesday: the statement of solidarity against inter-union raiding released at the UNITE HERE convention last week.

Over the past few months, there have been a series of accusations and mischaracterizations that have gone with minimal comment from SEIU as we have honored our commitment to détente with UNITE HERE. We have declined to date to take the bait, instead ceasing all hostilities and incursions on UNITE HERE locals.

We have talked for weeks with many leaders including those who signed the letter—some who called for and still support our call for binding arbitration—to reinforce that SEIU agrees to the principles in the letter that oppose raiding, respects core jurisdiction, and wants a quick end to the settlement. Many leaders, including the Officers, were disappointed on how this letter -- which we would have signed -- was provocatively used by a handful of HERE partisans.

SEIU and Workers United continue to focus on what is in the best interest of all our members: bringing this conflict to a swift resolution.

In that spirit, we have repeatedly asked John Wilhelm to join us before an independent panel for binding arbitration. In fact, many prominent labor and progressive leaders have joined our call for John Wilhelm to settle this dispute, including AFT president Randi Weingarten, UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, actor and activist Danny Glover, numerous Central Labor Council presidents, Benjamin Todd Jealous and Julian Bond of the NAACP, NUPGE President Jim Clancy and others. You can read their individual letters here.

Because there has been some confusion as to SEIU's position regarding Workers United and UNITE HERE, I want us all to understand where we stand:

• SEIU has accepted the framework proposed by UFCW President Joe Hansen, and we stand ready to let President Hansen arbitrate this dispute. SEIU would honor the results of binding arbitration.
  
  
• SEIU accepts that hotels and gaming are the core jurisdiction of UNITE HERE, and we accept Joe Hansen's recommendation on food service being a core jurisdiction for SEIU. We have said to Joe Hansen and John Wilhelm that SEIU is not interested in raiding UNITE HERE members or organizing hotel or gaming workers generally. Both UNITE HERE and SEIU in previous discussions with Joe Hansen made requests for limited exceptions in each others’ jurisdictions based on unique circumstances. SEIU believes that the arbitrator should develop a principle that applies equally to these disputed food service and hospitality workers and we should all live by the results.
  
  
• SEIU is not raiding UNITE HERE, and UNITE HERE must end its attacks on Workers United/SEIU and its raids on our members. SEIU called for a "cease fire" last April and we have honored our commitment. However, while we stood down, UNITE HERE escalated its strategy of attacking Workers United members and leaders, interfering with bargaining, and asking employers to escrow dues. For example:
  
  
  • UNITE HERE organizers have been attacking California laundry shops since December 2008. While thousands of California laundry workers are fighting right now for strong contracts for themselves and their families, employers like ARAMARK are using UNITE HERE's interference to refuse to schedule bargaining dates. Please see Attachment #1 for actual leaflets distributed by UNITE HERE.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE has contacted more than 1,600 Workers United Employers and urged them to escrow dues and deny access to union representatives. At Atrium Windows in Texas, the company used this to deny manufacturing workers access to health and safety records that workers need to protect themselves from unsafe working conditions. Please see Attachment #2 for letters sent by UNITE HERE asking for employers to escrow dues and cease bargaining efforts with Workers United.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE is sending organizers into Workers United locals to disrupt bargaining. In Philadelphia, 2,500 Workers United members who provide school breakfast and lunch to students cannot get the school district to negotiate with them despite the fact that their contract has expired because UNITE HERE sent in 20 organizers to challenge their rights to bargain. Please see Attachment #3 to read a letter from the Philadelphia School District explaining its decision to escrow dues.
    
    
  • UNITE HERE has encouraged employers to stop bargaining for first contracts at newly organized workplaces. At the Courtyard Marriott Niagara, where a worker had been fired for organizing, workers are still waiting for their chance to bargain a first contract after John Wilhelm wrote to the newly organized hotel and told the employer to stop bargaining. Please see Attachment #4 to read a letter from UNITE HERE Local 274 instructing a Workers United employer to stop negotiations with “SEIU’s Workers United.”

I know this is not where members need us to focus our time, so we have consciously resisted moving resources away from healthcare, free choice, budget battles and contract fights. We have invested our efforts in encouraging final and binding arbitration. If you’ve followed recent headlines, you know that SEIU is hard at work:

• bringing strange bedfellows like Wal-Mart to the table to deliver bold healthcare reform,
  
  
• saving Hartmarx workers' jobs,
  
  
• fighting unscrupulous employers like Bank of America,
  
  
• challenging the Chamber for its anti-worker positions, and
  
  
• standing for justice for immigrants in this country.

I am proud of this union, and I know that together, the work we do makes a real difference in our members' lives and for the future of hardworking women and men all around this country and Canada.

The ball is now squarely in John Wilhelm's court. Workers United and SEIU have taken every measure, made every effort and gone to every extreme to end this ugly dispute. This will be settled eventually. The only question is how many workers will go without contracts or endure attacks by their bosses in alliance with UNITE HERE in the interim. It is time for binding arbitration with Joe Hansen or any neutral party. We can find a final binding settlement or we can continue to let this dispute hurt workers. SEIU has made our choice.

Mo Money Mo Problems!

About that rumored dues increase...

The latest Perez hears, there will be a "special assessment" starting as soon as SEIU can figure out the details. The assessment will end at the beginning of 2010, but then there will be a permanent mandatory increase (got to pay for those $250 a night hotel rooms!). One local staffer reports that dues at his local are set to go up by $0.75.

Everything will apparently be finalized at the ominous sounding meeting detailed below.

Oh, and for anyone wondering what Annelle Grajeda is up to these days, here's your answer...

-----

To: Public Services Division Leadership Board
From: Annelle Grajeda/Eileen Kirlin
Update on Division Leadership Assembly

The Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC
Friday, July 17 begin @ 1pm – adjourn afternoon on Sunday, July 19, 2009

Sleeping Room Rate is $216.40 per night (including tax) - Single occupancy; $239.30 per night (including tax) – Double occupancy

Here's an update on the July DLA. Based on feedback from leaders on the Division Leadership Board regarding budget concerns and other issues related to the economic crisis, we have decided to convene a different, more targeted event. The Working Conference on Innovation and Quality will bring together those locals who are at a point where they are ready to pilot a program around quality and innovation. The conference will provide support, ideas and tools for doing so. Not all locals are prepared to launch a pilot on quality services and you may choose not to participate in the conference; however, we want to assure you that materials, tools and support will be available and ready when you are.

Who You Should Send

This will be a working conference and it is our expectation that locals will leave with very clear next steps and direction. Therefore, you should send the people from your local - staff and members - who are most open to thinking about new and innovative approaches and who have the willingness and capacity to help move a program once they return. We are less concerned about titles and positions, and more about having a group of people who are excited about figuring out this part of the union's vision and work.

We think it is best if you can send a team because the likelihood of actually implementing something increases when there is a committed group behind it. We'd like you to limit the number of people to five, however, if you have good reasons for sending a larger group, please contact Bob Lawson at robert.lawson@seiu.org

BY JUNE 5th, please let Juanita Frazier (Juanita.frazier@seiu.org) know who you will be bringing. If there is a specific sector you have ideas for a pilot in, please let us know that as well.

Additionally, for planning purposes, we wanted to let you know that there will be a post Free Choice working meeting in June. We hope that locals will send the key people working on Free Choice organizing.

Juanita Frazier
Public Services Division
Phone: 202-730-7306
Fax: 202-350-6620
Office Address:
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Please note: New email address: juanita.frazier@seiu.org

DANGER! BEWARE!

Your union treats you like a child!



Here's the front of SEIU's latest mailer to Kaiser members in Orange County (the reverse is boring, but I'll post it if readers would like me to). Dramatic huh? Who needs democracy when you have Photoshop?

(edit) By reader request, here's the back:



Even more excitingly, today Perez is able to bring you a sneak preview of SEIU's next few mailers...







Remember kids! Stay away from those petitions!

Can't get no (member) satisfaction...

Here's an update on those layoffs at Local 6434 from a reader...

"First they let the coalition staff, political staff (except one former International player who was conveniently promoted two weeks before) "member satisfaction" staff, and call center staff know they were all laid off as of June 30. Then they came back on June 23, and told the coalition and political staff they were laid off early, because management thought they might steal union documents.

One funny thing about it though, they only told that to the women in those departments. At the same time they told the women they were out the door, they were offering two men in the same departments new jobs with the union.

The kicker is that in order to get whatever paltry and embarrassing severance they finally offer, the newly unemployed will have to sign a statement that they won't sue the union."

So what are SEIU managers so afraid of?

Limited to two per household...

Rumor has it that demand is expected to be so high for tickets to the Bruce Raynor roadshow that they will be distributed via an online lottery process similar to that used for the Michael Jackson memorial service in LA tomorrow!

Ok, not really, but Raynor is apparently making the rounds with SEIU locals, introducing himself and "Workers United" to the executive boards and trying to convince them not to worry about all this nonsense in the press because SEIU is stronger together with an extra 100,000 members (maybe) and the renewed hatred of the entire labor movement.

So get your tickets now, and don't worry that Stern just appointed an Executive Vice President (one of only six, and not up for election until 2012) who apparently stole $12 million from his former union!

Who says SEIU don't listen?

Look at the difference between the sad little mobile billboard circling the UNITE HERE convention last week...



And SEIU's new (full page) advertisements in The Nation (see this great letter by Randy Shaw)...



It looks like after a reader suggested that "When unions fight, workers lose" had a more apt alternate meaning, someone at SEIU took note! Well, it's a start!

Sunday reading.

While I don't usually make posts out of links to (more) mainstream news sources, there's been so much great reporting and commentary around the UNITE HERE convention this week that it only seems right to give you a run down of it...

SocialistWorker.org
UNITE HERE pushes back against SEIU
Lee Sustar reports on the UNITE HERE convention in Chicago.

In These Times
Solidarity Reunited?
Unions rally around shrunken UNITE HERE as it takes on its former ally.
By David Moberg

Democracy Now!
“Change to Win is Dead”
Juan Gonzalez on Labor Movement Struggle (video)

BeyondChron
AFL-CIO Condemns SEIU Raids on UNITE HERE
by Randy Shaw‚ Jul. 01‚ 2009

Los Angeles Times
Obama's curiously close labor friendship
SEIU chief Andy Stern enjoys unusual access to the White House, but some in the fractious labor movement question its value.
By Peter Nicholas, June 28, 2009

In These Times
Can a Union Divided Stand?
UNITE HERE dissolves in conflict … with a little help from SEIU.
By David Moberg

And for balance, here's SEIU/"Workers United"'s take on it all!


Please let me know if I missed anything you think other readers should see.

Inappropriate Activity...

Memo from management to security guards at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center...

Try the North Pole next time!

So where's Andy this week while the whole labor movement publicly turns on him?

Conveniently, he's about as far away as he could get - on a junket to Australia with Anna Burger and some local leaders, trying to persuade the Australian union movement that SEIU is some kind of example to be followed.

-----

Taran Shephard tshephard@actu.asn.au
19/06/2009 3:23 pm

Attached, you will find an invitation to the next ACTU OECC Organiser Forum, to be held at the Trades Hall Auditorium on Wednesday 1 July, from 2 to 4pm.

We hope you and your Organisers will be able to join us for the event.

Please RSVP on the attached Excel form to smartinez@actu.asn.au, by Thursday 25 June.

Since 1995, the Service Employees International Union has served as an exemplar of a union prepared to do extraordinary things in order to win for workers in North America. Australian unions have studied their techniques and adapted many of them to our circumstances. From the SEIU we got Organising as a union change agenda, Lead Organisers, committee building, mapping, the use of research, dedicated growth organisers, and much more.

On 1 July, we will be visited by a delegation of SEIU Local Union Leaders, led by Andy Stern, SEIU President and Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win and Secretary of the SEIU.

Please join us at this special seminar, where they will talk about their union's fight to ensure Obama was elected and their current fight to ensure that workers - and not employers - can decide that workers can have a union contract. The members of the delegation will welcome questions from the floor.

Wednesday 1 July 2009
2pm - 4 pm
Trades Hall Auditorium
Ground Floor (entrance via 377 Sussex Street, or Cnr Goulburn and Dixon Streets)

RSVP: Silvia Martinez - smartinez@actu.asn.au on attached Excel form by Thurs 25 June.

ACTU OECC Sydney Office,

Level 3, Trades Hall Building, 02 8268 9700

--
Australian Council of Trade Unions

-----

After this week, Perez wonders if he'll try to stay. They still have the internet down there you know Andy!

Left out.

Here's the sorry waste of dues money that was SEIU's delegation to the UNITE HERE convention this week! This truck circled the hotel where the convention was held until it got a ticket!



The reader who sent this picture wonders whether it should have read "When Unions Fight Each Other, Workers Lose", or whether Stern and Raynor are just trying to build support for their collusion with bosses?

And on another note, what's with all the mobile billboards lately? Why are they the hot new thing at SEIU - does someone's spouse own a billboard truck company?

No one wants to dance with Dave!

Perez hears that Old School Dave was in Los Angeles yesterday, meeting with members at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Sounds like Dave was planning on doing all the talking but ended up being confronted by members who told him that their staff rep was MIA - nowhere to be found when they had problems, and that they were sick of watching SEIU "executives" waste their money on expensive hotels, while Cedars management continues to abuse workers.

Regan's buzz words and promises about his grand organizing plans fell flat; he's now promising a general meeting on July 15, where he'll be unveiling a shiny new vision for hope and unity! SEIU had better use the next two weeks to come up with something good!

Fresno fallout.

An SEIU staffer reports on the aftermath...

"The Fresno office is a mess, they do not even have a Spanish rep for the homecare members. Rebecca (Malberg) the director is not even there, she has been spending more time in Oakland and the Fresno office is in chaos. Maggie the Hmong organizer says that she goes to the Hmong community, but it is not true, she is using two poor Hmong people to do her job.

There is a big fight inside the Fresno office for positions, but what the members don't know that Dave Regan is planning to bring his own people to run the entire Fresno office. Lots of people that work there haven't received their pay checks. Go inside the Fresno office and you will see the big mess they've made all over, they don't even know what they are doing! Hello Andy! Pay these people and go away!

In Fresno SEIU made illegal moves and forced people to go to the post office. They even took the ballot, marked it and took it to the post office themselves. Over 40% of Fresno people didn't vote in the elections, and if SEIU would have played clean I bet they would have lost. I am so sorry I supported SEIU, and I feel ashamed now, but I need to concentrate on the members and give them my best."