Fil-Am Culture

Hundreds of Union Workers Rally to Protect Their Democratic Voice

Photos by Jay Fermin. All rights reserved.

Los Angeles: Hundreds of members of United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) gathered at their Los Angeles union headquarters Wednesday and declared with one voice that they will not tolerate attempts by SEIU International officers to centralize power and subvert union democracy.

The rally came on the heels of a similar gathering last Thursday at UHW’s Oakland headquarters; both events saw a massive turnout demonstrating the resolve of members to resist attempts by SEIU President Andy Stern to chill internal dissent, marginalize political opposition and thwart union democracy.

The Healthcare workers declared their intention to retain control of the voice of their local union and gave full support to UHW’s elected leaders. The Rally was in response to Washington D.C. based SEIU International President Andy Stern’s allegations against UHW’s officers which started the groundwork for a takeover. These actions from Washington SEIU made UHW members in California outraged because these interference could undo years of hard work which spans 200 contracts and involves 80,000 workers at hospitals and long term care facilities throughout California.

SEIU’s latest actions have included misusing member dues to engage in disinformation campaigns about UHW, colluding with nursing home operators to sabotage UHW’s collective bargaining efforts and hurling false accusations that UHW coordinated with the California Nurses Association (CNA) to derail organizing efforts in Ohio.

UHW, the fastest growing local union in America over the past decade promotes the role of members in decision-making and makes sure that the workers have direct role in all aspects of the UHW union. These values have resulted in establishing unprecedented higher standards for healthcare workers throughout California.

Several attempts were made to call and get the response of SEIU President Andy Stern at his office in Washington D.C. but were unsuccessful.

For more on this issue, log on to the official website of UHW: www.seiuvoice.org

By Jay Fermin