SEIU seizes last holdout: UHW's Oakland headquartersBy Steven T. Jones
The takeover of United Healthcare Workers by Service Employees International was completed today as SEIU finally took physical control of UHW’s Oakland headquarters and changed the locks following a final standoff that had to be mediated by Oakland Police officers who were called to the scene.
“We went to the office and we asked to be able to do the work we need to do,” David Regan, who SEIU appointed as a trustee overseeing UHW, told the Guardian. But they were turned away by UHW members still loyal to ousted president Sal Rosselli, who has formed a new rival union. “The police came and we sorted it all out.”
“We have been contacting tens of thousands of our members from all over the state over last few days and talking to them about the core work we should be doing,” Regan said, noting how important it is right now to present a united worker front to counteract deep proposed budget cuts by the state and its 58 counties.
SEIU took possession of UHW’s Los Angeles office shortly after the trusteeship was imposed on Tuesday afternoon, “and it’s a mess,” said SEIU spokesperson Michelle Ringuette. In their calls to members, she said that “a silent majority” are anxious to get past this union turf and aren’t likely to disaffiliate and join Rosselli’s new union.
But John Borsos, a spokeperson for the ousted UHW leaders, said members want a say in their union and “I believe thousands of current UHW members will seek to become part of this new union,” known at National Union of Healthcare Workers.
Both Ringuette and Regan downplayed the Oakland standoff, saying members are more important that offices. “But at the day, the reason the office is important is because it has tools we need to run the union effectively,” Regan said, citing membership data, payroll records, and files on ongoing contract negotiations as examples.
Check back here last and look in next week's Guardian for more, including a report from Guardian intern Joe Sciarrillo, who was at the scene in Oakland (but who's now following another protest of the murder of BART rider Oscar Grant after the officer who shot him was paroled)
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Comments (3)
Many people forget that UHW has a Union Hall in San Jose, which mind you is still in the hands of members. They have come twice with their hired guns ("SEIU") and the members in the union hall have called the police and had them turned away twice. It would seem here in San Jose we follow the law and if you don't have a court order you don't get entry. They have been told no court order don't come back. The police have been called on a number of the hired guns that do carry guns, why would you hire that kind of person to try to take over a union hall with nonviolence. Why does King Andy want to physicaly hurt Healthcare Workers, at least the boss tries not to give the workers physical pain and if they do they call it Workman's Comp, do we have that if Andy hurts our members with his for hire gunman.
Posted by Robyne | February 2, 2009 08:35 PM
What a sad day...ousting of ELECTED Union leaders and stealing of Union halls that were paid for by the dues of members of a wonderful Union Local (UHW-West)by a dictator who is more responsive to corporate cronies than to his own members (who, by the way, pay his exorbitant salary). Its enough to make a grown man (a grown labor activist) cry!
Posted by Butch Cole | February 4, 2009 12:11 AM
Hi, i amnot a member but DESPERATELY looking for an employment attorney to represent me. i was discharged unfaily. i like in Pacifica. Anything you can do I will ALWAYS be greatful to you. i already tried the phone book, no luck. Thank you very much for trying. '
Eduardo
Posted by eduardo r. | July 17, 2009 01:42 PM