Andy Stern and the SEIU continue to be the lightening rod for undemocratic tactics within Big Labor itself. At a recent speech to the AFL-CIO, UNITE-HERE President John Wilhelm highlighted Stern’s divisive role in the labor movement, and bemoaned that Stern has Obama’s ear as a “spokesperson” for Big Labor.
When you look at the pattern of SEIU activity it becomes very clear that we cannot let SEIU define or speak for the labor movement. First we see a disturbing pattern of corruption… Second, SEIU has managed to create a myth around its organizing program that does a disservice to the labor movement. The reality is that SEIU has utterly failed to organize in the private sector… Politically, under Andy Stern, SEIU has become a willing participant with Democrats who engage in divide and conquer… Stern’s scorched earth tactics in California have kicked up a swelling backlash throughout California labor and the progressive community. SEIU is blackmailing Central Labor Councils across the state…
And to close, Wilhelm commented,
I began in the labor movement 41 years ago. It took me a while to accept that our union had to focus on this destructive force in the union movement. But if one of the final chapters in my career is to help stop this attempted takeover of the American labor movement by SEIU, I will be content to see it through.
SEIU’s troubles in the west continue, as 10 more nursing homes determined to boot the SEIU and move to the National Union of Healthcare Workers, the new union born of the former SEIU local that Stern had attempted to manipulate and control. Stern was also forced to give up the fight at Doctors Medical Center San Pablo, when a judge dismissed the SEIU request to set aside election resultss after a bargaining unit there also decided to leave SEIU for NUHW.
