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UNITE HERE Staff Respond to New York Times Article
It is a tremendous disappointment to Unite Here staff members represented by our staff union, UUHS, that Steven Greenhouse and The New York Times chose to publish such a one-sided piece about alleged practices within Unite Here. His story is founded on trumped-up claims made by disgruntled former staffers, one of whom currently works for SEIU, and another who helped SEIU interfere with an organizing campaign.
An Open Letter:
It is a tremendous disappointment to Unite Here staff members represented by our staff union, UUHS, that Steven Greenhouse and The New York Times chose to publish such a one-sided piece about alleged practices within Unite Here. His story is founded on trumped-up claims made by disgruntled former staffers, one of whom currently works for SEIU, and another who helped SEIU interfere with an organizing campaign.
We are shocked by Mr. Greenhouse’s irresponsible reporting and lack of journalistic integrity. Greenhouse failed to place the issue of “pink sheeting” into the broader context of SEIU’s attacks on our Union, made a few isolated incidents look like an institutional conspiracy, and even speculated that a painful part of the UFW’s history is somehow related to Unite Here. For this he offered little or no evidence and support. Mr. Greenhouse willfully omitted the views and opinions of current staff members whom he interviewed, despite the fact that he talked with an elected leader of UUHS for over an hour.
UUHS acknowledges that Unite Here, like any large organization, faces challenges. The role of our staff union is to ensure a check and balance system in Unite Here, and to critically address issues in a productive way. We condemn any invasion of our members’ privacy. However, readers should know that in October, an overwhelming majority of Unite Here staff chose to leave our former staff union, FOUR, and join UUHS. The reason being that FOUR, now the representative for Workers United staff, colluded with WU/SEIU by sensationalizing serious allegations to the press, and even intentionally ignored grievances by staff in a cynical effort to damage Unite Here. Failing to even acknowledge this aspect of the controversy, Mr. Greenhouse merely contributed to their efforts and produced a tabloid distortion of the truth.
As current staff, our experience with Unite Here is that it fosters our ability to think and critique, contribute intelligently, and creates space for us to challenge and discuss key decisions of the union. We are proud of its organizing culture. Organizers are committed to building deep and trusting relationships with workers, in which they relate as complete human beings; there is mutual recognition that both organizers and workers are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, care-takers of family, and members of our communities. No one is just a worker at a job site. It is this dedication that has allowed rank and file members to become leaders in our union and the broader movement for social justice, and has made Unite Here a strong and member-driven leader of the American labor movement.
UNION OF UNITE HERE STAFF
c/o Diana Boice
425 College Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Chuck Hendricks
Organizer
Midwest Representative
Feng Kung
Organizer
Western Representative
Patrick Volcin
Organizer
Southern Representative
Tamanna Rahman
Organizer
Northeast Representative
Caitlin Prendiville
Research Analyst
Northeast Representative
Diana Boice
Membership Coordinator
Northeast Representative
Jay Yerex
Organizer
Canadian Representative
Lauren Burke
Organizer
Southwest Representative
Gina Rodriguez
Western Representative
Calvin Miaw
Organizer
Local 2850 Representative
It is a tremendous disappointment to Unite Here staff members represented by our staff union, UUHS, that Steven Greenhouse and The New York Times chose to publish such a one-sided piece about alleged practices within Unite Here. His story is founded on trumped-up claims made by disgruntled former staffers, one of whom currently works for SEIU, and another who helped SEIU interfere with an organizing campaign.
We are shocked by Mr. Greenhouse’s irresponsible reporting and lack of journalistic integrity. Greenhouse failed to place the issue of “pink sheeting” into the broader context of SEIU’s attacks on our Union, made a few isolated incidents look like an institutional conspiracy, and even speculated that a painful part of the UFW’s history is somehow related to Unite Here. For this he offered little or no evidence and support. Mr. Greenhouse willfully omitted the views and opinions of current staff members whom he interviewed, despite the fact that he talked with an elected leader of UUHS for over an hour.
UUHS acknowledges that Unite Here, like any large organization, faces challenges. The role of our staff union is to ensure a check and balance system in Unite Here, and to critically address issues in a productive way. We condemn any invasion of our members’ privacy. However, readers should know that in October, an overwhelming majority of Unite Here staff chose to leave our former staff union, FOUR, and join UUHS. The reason being that FOUR, now the representative for Workers United staff, colluded with WU/SEIU by sensationalizing serious allegations to the press, and even intentionally ignored grievances by staff in a cynical effort to damage Unite Here. Failing to even acknowledge this aspect of the controversy, Mr. Greenhouse merely contributed to their efforts and produced a tabloid distortion of the truth.
As current staff, our experience with Unite Here is that it fosters our ability to think and critique, contribute intelligently, and creates space for us to challenge and discuss key decisions of the union. We are proud of its organizing culture. Organizers are committed to building deep and trusting relationships with workers, in which they relate as complete human beings; there is mutual recognition that both organizers and workers are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, care-takers of family, and members of our communities. No one is just a worker at a job site. It is this dedication that has allowed rank and file members to become leaders in our union and the broader movement for social justice, and has made Unite Here a strong and member-driven leader of the American labor movement.
UNION OF UNITE HERE STAFF
c/o Diana Boice
425 College Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Chuck Hendricks
Organizer
Midwest Representative
Feng Kung
Organizer
Western Representative
Patrick Volcin
Organizer
Southern Representative
Tamanna Rahman
Organizer
Northeast Representative
Caitlin Prendiville
Research Analyst
Northeast Representative
Diana Boice
Membership Coordinator
Northeast Representative
Jay Yerex
Organizer
Canadian Representative
Lauren Burke
Organizer
Southwest Representative
Gina Rodriguez
Western Representative
Calvin Miaw
Organizer
Local 2850 Representative
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It is a tremendous disappointment that so many bright and talented young people could be so easily fooled into believing the lies of the Kool Aid pushers at HERE. Lashing out at those who leave a group and speak put about abuses theyve suffered is a typical cult-like behavior. Anyone who has spent any significant time working for or with HERE knows 1) that pink sheeting is real and 2) that pink sheeting is really fucked up and damaging.
There is no "context" that makes this practice acceptable or excusable. It is abusive, intrusive, manipulative, illegal, immoral and inexcusable. Good for Greenhouse for exposing it, and shame on you for trying to make excuses for it.
As for this pathetic excuse of an excuse for the pathetic behavior of HERE.... UUHS is actually a company union, supported by UNITE HERE leadership, that was propped up to replace the real staff union when that union (FOUR) had the audacity to speak out and stand up to HERE leaders to try to stop the practice of pink sheeting. UUHS claiming that opposition to pink sheeting is an SEIU conspiracy just reveals how screwed up in the head the cult of HERE has made them. This has been a problem in HERE for DECADES and John Wilhelm, Karl Lechow and many others have known and condoned it for all that time. Thier denials only expose thier fundamental dishonesty.
Wake up and put down the punch folks.
There is no "context" that makes this practice acceptable or excusable. It is abusive, intrusive, manipulative, illegal, immoral and inexcusable. Good for Greenhouse for exposing it, and shame on you for trying to make excuses for it.
As for this pathetic excuse of an excuse for the pathetic behavior of HERE.... UUHS is actually a company union, supported by UNITE HERE leadership, that was propped up to replace the real staff union when that union (FOUR) had the audacity to speak out and stand up to HERE leaders to try to stop the practice of pink sheeting. UUHS claiming that opposition to pink sheeting is an SEIU conspiracy just reveals how screwed up in the head the cult of HERE has made them. This has been a problem in HERE for DECADES and John Wilhelm, Karl Lechow and many others have known and condoned it for all that time. Thier denials only expose thier fundamental dishonesty.
Wake up and put down the punch folks.
The SEIU staffers on post on this clearly have no idea.
UNITE HERE staff have chosen to leave FOUR because FOUR was the company union for andy stern and bruce raynor. FOUR used their position as the staff union to attempt to help Raynor raid UNITE HERE shops file trumped up charges like those on pink sheeting.
At UNITE HERE, we chose a real union, that could actually fight for/with us, UUHS. We had been loyal dues pay members of FOUR for years, and when Stern/Raynor started their war on UNITE HERE, it was clear that our staff union had formed an alliance with the Raiders.
We fought back and our proud of our decision.
UNITE HERE staff have chosen to leave FOUR because FOUR was the company union for andy stern and bruce raynor. FOUR used their position as the staff union to attempt to help Raynor raid UNITE HERE shops file trumped up charges like those on pink sheeting.
At UNITE HERE, we chose a real union, that could actually fight for/with us, UUHS. We had been loyal dues pay members of FOUR for years, and when Stern/Raynor started their war on UNITE HERE, it was clear that our staff union had formed an alliance with the Raiders.
We fought back and our proud of our decision.
It's indicative of the Company nature of this "staff union" that it is based in New Haven. In fact, the address given is the address for the Unite Here Locals 217, 34 & 35, which are all historically HERE locals, and its where Wilhelm and his cronies made a name for themselves organizing Yale grad students. Rest assured, this Pinksheeting is not an isolated practice, but a philosophy built at the top of this union and instituted on down, and protected quietly for years, now by the people who've put their names to this letter for this fake organization.
But now the cats out of the bag. Obviously many were worried about potential damage to the labor movement as a whole in dragging this deplorable practice into public view, but it had to be done. Over years FOUR members have fought and grieved this practice, and have faced bitter battles with HERE leadership, combined with lip-service to ending it and respecting members' privacy.
It's the same method of relentless lying that's the basis for Unite Here's claims that they are being raided by SEIU, attacked by SEIU, that this story is a conspiracy by SEIU... at a certain point a person's got to call 'bullshit.'
This is a bullshit 'staff union,' defending a bullshit practice, and the claims that Unite Here is being raided by SEIU are bullshit. This has got to stop.
But now the cats out of the bag. Obviously many were worried about potential damage to the labor movement as a whole in dragging this deplorable practice into public view, but it had to be done. Over years FOUR members have fought and grieved this practice, and have faced bitter battles with HERE leadership, combined with lip-service to ending it and respecting members' privacy.
It's the same method of relentless lying that's the basis for Unite Here's claims that they are being raided by SEIU, attacked by SEIU, that this story is a conspiracy by SEIU... at a certain point a person's got to call 'bullshit.'
This is a bullshit 'staff union,' defending a bullshit practice, and the claims that Unite Here is being raided by SEIU are bullshit. This has got to stop.
FOUR member = PAID SEIU EMPLOYEE
just another way for Stern to try and destroy what he can't beat.
just another way for Stern to try and destroy what he can't beat.
Truth hurts
Just because a union staffer now works for Workers United/SEIU doesn't discredit them any more than a union staffer who works for UNITE HERE and excuses pinksheeting discredits his/herself. They left because they didn't want to work under the conditions that a majority of UNITE HERE (formerly HERE) staff do, with mind games such as pinksheeting, humiliation by (crazy) supervisors, serious overworking, and the belief that they are god's gift to organizing, on the verge of bringing about the revolution. Working for UNITE was never nearly as bad as that.
And just a note on UUHS -- don't worry, it will just end up being equally crappy if not crappier than FOUR.
And just a note on UUHS -- don't worry, it will just end up being equally crappy if not crappier than FOUR.
Thats interesting. A fews yrs. ago Chuck was singing a different tune.
I have so much to say about this, I could write a book. However, I don't have the time to do that, so I'll make a quick point here. This open letter is disingenuous at best. It manages to conflate 3 separate issues. They are: 1) Pink sheeting 2) SEIUs assault on HERE 3) FOURs bias toward UNITE side employees of the former UNITE HERE. These are three separate issues. Pink sheeting is a manipulative - verging on cultish - practice. I've done it and had it done to me as a former employee of the organization. I do not support it. And this has nothing to do with the fact that FOUR is a biased and flawed union or that SEIU has aggressively assaulted HEREs organizing turf. Regardless of the latter two facts, pink sheeting should be exposed for what it is and the practice should be shut down. Also, Wilhelm is lying when he says that the organization doesn't condone such invasions of privacy. It is integral to the organizing methods in many/most locals. (Apologies for spelling errors :)
Please find me one current UNITE HERE employee who feels that FOUR represented their interests or their vision for UNITE HERE. FOUR's vision of UNITE HERE was as a subsidiary of SEIU.
I agree with everything the Union of UNITE HERE Staff and UNITE HERE says verbatim, as their message is simple, direct, constant, and to the point. SEIU is out to destory us. SEIU is the bad guy. No matter what the charge is leveled against us, stay on message by blaming SEIU for all our problems. Never forget this fact even if it may or may not be true.
Like Wilhelm says in the NYT article on the charge of pink sheeting leveled against UNITE HERE: "...it is largely part of a propaganda effort by the SEIU." He is right. He is a good propagandist himself. He knows that the main point is not pink sheeting per se, but that it is all the fault of SEIU, because SEIU is out to destory us. Period.
Wilhelm is smart by turning it all back onto SEIU. He knows that the message is the fight, as he knows his history well.
“The most brilliant propagandist technique," it was once said, "will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.”
Repeating over and over that SEIU is the bad guy and behind everything that is out to destory UNITE HERE is a point that must be repeated over and over and never forgotten. Wilhelm is one smart dude. I only wish I was smarter.
Like Wilhelm says in the NYT article on the charge of pink sheeting leveled against UNITE HERE: "...it is largely part of a propaganda effort by the SEIU." He is right. He is a good propagandist himself. He knows that the main point is not pink sheeting per se, but that it is all the fault of SEIU, because SEIU is out to destory us. Period.
Wilhelm is smart by turning it all back onto SEIU. He knows that the message is the fight, as he knows his history well.
“The most brilliant propagandist technique," it was once said, "will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.”
Repeating over and over that SEIU is the bad guy and behind everything that is out to destory UNITE HERE is a point that must be repeated over and over and never forgotten. Wilhelm is one smart dude. I only wish I was smarter.
As a UNITE HERE staff person I, for one, did not vote for UUHS. We were told in so many words by our Local that if we wanted a staff Union it would have to be an internal deal because FOUR was not going to be recognized as our staff Union no longer by the International. I just knew that this was gonna to be a joke. In fact, I don't even remember meeting or voting for the people listed on the UUHS letterhead, and I have yet to see a signed contract or a copy of the bylaws.
But what really gets me is seeing the address of UUHS on the letterhead as that of UNITE HERE Locals 34, 35 & 217 in Connecticut. I could not believe it when I saw this. What Union lists its address as that of the boss?
For those who don't believe me, - I didn't at first. I had to check, just click on the UNITE HERE Affiliates and Local Union link below to see for yourself:
http://www.unitehere.org/about/localsall.php#Connecticut
Man, it is going to be a long ride. I just might have to become a Beck objector, but I am sure if I do so I will become the victim of a "layoff," - if you know what I mean.
But what really gets me is seeing the address of UUHS on the letterhead as that of UNITE HERE Locals 34, 35 & 217 in Connecticut. I could not believe it when I saw this. What Union lists its address as that of the boss?
For those who don't believe me, - I didn't at first. I had to check, just click on the UNITE HERE Affiliates and Local Union link below to see for yourself:
http://www.unitehere.org/about/localsall.php#Connecticut
Man, it is going to be a long ride. I just might have to become a Beck objector, but I am sure if I do so I will become the victim of a "layoff," - if you know what I mean.
How much are the monthly Union dues for UUHS? I ask because no one from UUHS returns my phone calls when I call to ask about the dues and no one in my Local has any information about UUHS. We don't even know who our representative is. We never see him/her. Any help would be great. Thanks.
We need to get rid of UUHS and take the fight to them head on, because fighting UUHS is the same thing as fighting UNITE HERE. I have a couple of UNITE HERE staffers that I will have move a petition to get rid of them. For others who wish to do the same thing click on the web link below from the NLRB on how to get rid of a union and then act!
http://www.nlrb.gov/Workplace_Rights/i_am_new_to_this_website/how_do_i_file_a_petition_to_start_or_remove_a_union.aspx
http://www.nlrb.gov/Workplace_Rights/i_am_new_to_this_website/how_do_i_file_a_petition_to_start_or_remove_a_union.aspx
The representatives of UUHS are listed on the letter head along with their location of which they are the representative for. Pretty sure that couldn't be more clear
Dues are 6.92 per week.
However, what is pretty clear is that you are not actually a UUHS member, you are probably one of the SEIU staff that are currently raiding UNITE HERE or attempting to destroy democracy in the Health Care union in California.
Dues are 6.92 per week.
However, what is pretty clear is that you are not actually a UUHS member, you are probably one of the SEIU staff that are currently raiding UNITE HERE or attempting to destroy democracy in the Health Care union in California.
You are right: I am not a UUHS member, because as staff a person who works for UNITE HERE our Local never voted to leave FOUR nor voted to choose UUHS as our new union. Maybe I am wrong on this, but if you can publish the results and dates of the votes for UUHS by UNITE HERE Locals, then I will stand corrected if my Local is listed. I doubt very much you will do this, and I doubt very much my Local will be listed.
As for your mantra that SEIU/WU is the big bad boogie man out to "destory" or "raid" UNITE HERE, I can honestly say that is not the case in the Joint Board we shared (and are no longer a part of) with SEIU/WU. We are not fighting with SEIU/WU nor are we being "destoryed" or "raided" by them, and, just as important, it needs to be said, niether are we seeking to "destory" or "raid" SEIU/WU in our neck of the woods, because where UNITE HERE members became SEIU/WU members and vice versa: it really came down to poor member representation in the shops on each organizations part that led to the affected members to pull the trigger to leave UNITE HERE and SEIU/WU. This a hard truth for either side to admit. We must stop seeing the world in black and white, but start seeing the world in color.
I hope very soon the dispute between our union and SEIU/WU will end for good. It is a much too costly dispute and in the end it only hurts our members that we represent.
One last thing: please make sure UUHS gets an office that is not housed in the same office as a UNITE HERE Local. It makes us look like a company union. Imagine if the Hilton HR department had an office in our Local office, how would that look to our members? Exactly. Like a company union. Enough said.
As for your mantra that SEIU/WU is the big bad boogie man out to "destory" or "raid" UNITE HERE, I can honestly say that is not the case in the Joint Board we shared (and are no longer a part of) with SEIU/WU. We are not fighting with SEIU/WU nor are we being "destoryed" or "raided" by them, and, just as important, it needs to be said, niether are we seeking to "destory" or "raid" SEIU/WU in our neck of the woods, because where UNITE HERE members became SEIU/WU members and vice versa: it really came down to poor member representation in the shops on each organizations part that led to the affected members to pull the trigger to leave UNITE HERE and SEIU/WU. This a hard truth for either side to admit. We must stop seeing the world in black and white, but start seeing the world in color.
I hope very soon the dispute between our union and SEIU/WU will end for good. It is a much too costly dispute and in the end it only hurts our members that we represent.
One last thing: please make sure UUHS gets an office that is not housed in the same office as a UNITE HERE Local. It makes us look like a company union. Imagine if the Hilton HR department had an office in our Local office, how would that look to our members? Exactly. Like a company union. Enough said.
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