UHW local members picket parent union SEIU in Washington, D.C.

April 5th, 2008

By Lisa Tomasian, CRT, ARRT, Elected Shop Steward, Santa Clara-Kaiser

This week about fifty rank and file members of United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW-W) gathered for picketing and leafleting in front of SEIU’s International headquarters in Washington, D.C. Why would any union member protest the union? It sounds nuts. You do it when the leaders start acting like bosses!

Click here for pictures of the picket.

Members sent a strong message that we will not tolerate attempts by SEIU International Officers to centralize power and subvert union democracy. It was so empowering to be able to bring our message of reform directly to the doorstep of SEIU’s top decision makers. We had to travel to Washington, D.C. because Andy Stern refused our repeated invitations to come to California to speak with our members.

When we arrived at the airport, it just so happened that International Executive Vice President, Mary Kay Henry, was at the airport at the same time. She was first spotted near baggage claim as she dashed past large group of members all in our SEIU purple gear without stopping to say so much as hello.

I was outside waiting for a shuttle bus to our hotel with a few others from our group, who were also wearing our purple SEIU gear, when suddenly Mary Kay darted past us in the middle of the street, presumably to avoid having to pass our group of members on the sidewalk! We had just enough time to blurt out, “Hey, there’s Mary Kay!” before she jumped into the back of a Lincoln Town car with black tinted windows and was quickly whisked away.

The next morning, we picketed, leafleted and gave interviews on camera about the need for a member driven union and our plan to advance reform at the 2008 SEIU Convention. As we protested and staff members were coming in and out of the building we handed them leaflets about our Platform for Change and how union democracy is under attack in SEIU. Frankly what left the mark of the day on me were the responses from the staff members of the international. One said, “I agree with this.” Another said, “You guys are doing a great job.” The best comment was, “You all are so right.”

Back at home we learned that Mary Kay Henry contacted United Healthcare Workers West’s elected President, Sal Rosselli, and said that although she had not been in the building during our picket, she wished she had been able to invite the picketers inside the building to discuss reform.

Frankly, it is not credible that the same SEIU Official who couldn’t get away from us fast enough at the airport, just the day before, would now claim that she wants to have a dialogue directly with members about the need for reform to prevent the recent abuses of power by SEIU Officials.

Our members demand a meaningful voice about the future growth and direction of our union. The choice is yours, SEIU: stop ignoring our demands for reform and real union democracy. Otherwise, we’ll be back!