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Thousands of UHW Rank-and-File Protest Andy Stern's Kangaroo Court

by josh
On Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, 2008, thousands of members of SEIU's United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) converged in San Mateo, CA to protest SEIU International's trusteeship hearing. The hearing is the latest move in SEIU President Andy Stern's attempts to takeover the 150,000 strong UHW and appoint his own hand-picked leaders. Stern has been widely criticized for his centralization of power, disregard for members' voices, and promotion of the latest brand of Business Unionism. Unionists both inside and outside SEIU have become concerned by recent reports of corruption by Stern's apointee in Los Angeles, as well as reports that the UHW trusteeship is diverting much-needed resources away from organizing for the Obama campaign.
uhw_trustee_hearing_01s.jpg
Over the years, UHW has been a leader in re-invigorating the labor movement, developing strong member activists, winning solid contracts, and organizing thousands of new members. They represents 150,000 healthcare workers in California.

Here's what UHW has posted on their website (http://www.seiu-uhw.org):

"SEIU officials in Washington, D.C. are trying to take our union – Our UHW – away from us, the workers who have made it so strong.

SEIU President Andy Stern has called a trusteeship hearing for September 26 and 27 to try to silence our voices and put Our UHW under the control of appointed leaders from Washington D.C. It is clear that Stern is retaliating against us for fighting his attempt to move more than 65,000 of our members into a union where his hand-picked leaders were allegedly diverting more than a million dollars in dues money for personal use.

Our UHW is member-led — because we know that it is workers, not bosses in Washington D.C., who know what’s best for our families and our patients. Our UHW has won some of the best contracts in the country, organized more new workers into our union this year than the rest of SEIU combined and has won important reforms like needle-stick protection and nurse-patient ratios.

Andy Stern’s effort to put Our UHW into trusteeship puts all of our hard-earned gains at risk. It’s time to show Stern
and other SEIU leaders that we will never let them take control of our union."
§UHW Family
by josh
uhw_trustee_hearing_02s.jpg
§Mom and Daughter
by josh
uhw_trustee_hearing_04s.jpg
§Purple Brigade
by josh
uhw_trustee_hearing_05s.jpg
§Obama
by josh
uhw_trustee_hearing_06s.jpg
Many of UHW's members were decked out in Obama gear - hats, shirts, buttons, etc..

Critics within SEIU have been concerned that the International's power struggle has diverted much needed staff and resources away from the Obama campaign, where they would otherwise be working. SEIU has built itself into one of the most politically active unions in the U.S.
§Union Yes, Trustee No!
by josh
uhw_trustee_hearing_07s.jpg
Add Your Comments
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DATE
Change to Win Unionist
Tue, Sep 30, 2008 7:56AM
Another '' Change to Win '' Unionist
Tue, Sep 30, 2008 7:48AM
chp
Mon, Sep 29, 2008 9:14AM
A UHW/SEIU couple
Sun, Sep 28, 2008 11:04PM
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