SEIU Watch

As we relayed last month, SEIU and AFSCME are considering a merger. This goes back to Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. Before Justice Scalia died, it looked probable that Rebecca Friedrichs was going to win her case against CTA. This would have set a precedent prohibiting public sector unions from collecting representation dues from nonmembers who worked alongside union members. SEIU and AFSCME, who together represent 3 million public sector workers, knew this would present a problem for them and began the discussion of joining forces. Though the merger isn’t as imminent as it might have been (with the Supreme Court ruling against Friedrichs), the discussion is still on the table. At SEIU’s Convention last month, a resolution was presented calling for collaborative effort to continue exploring this option.

In other SEIU/public sector news, another round of layoffs has been issued to state employees in Connecticut as the state works to close a $922 million budget gap. So far the total number of layoffs is over 500 with Governor Malloy saying he expects more than 2,000 positions eliminated in total. This comes after Malloy requested that the state unions (SEIU) give concessions during negotiations back in March…which they didn’t. Good call, SEIU. In the home health world, SEIU is planning a work-around in response to the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling that forced unionization of home care workers was unconstitutional. According to Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation, SEIU has two bills on the Illinois governor’s desk that would require home health workers to undergo training – by SEIU. The union’s very own captive audience meeting. This is the same union that allegedly has yet to repay $32 million in dues they received during their major dues scheme from 2008 to 2014. We say allegedly because it hasn’t been confirmed…because a federal judge blocked the class action lawsuit against the union. Elsewhere…

• SEIU members are suing their local.  After being underpaid for several years of overtime work, instead of standing up for their members (some of whom are owed $10,000), SEIU made a deal with the county.
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  Dennis Hickey Rivera

  Former SEIU president and “senior advisor” to Mary Kay Henry, Dennis Hickey Rivera, has been accused of an “influence-buying scheme linking multiple deep-pocketed business executives to Puerto Rico’s scandal-plagued governor.” Rivera has since hired a P.R. Firm, whose relationship with SEIU has been pretty interesting in itself. Click here for details.
• Last month, we reported that arbitration against Dave Regan began. This month, we report that, due to Regan’s sneaky self (click here for a refresher), the arbitrator ordered that SEIU-UHW withdraw its 2016 Executive Compensation Initiative (a measure they spent $5 million on just in the signature-gathering phase). This ruling will be presented to a superior court judge in the coming days for affirmation.
• Earlier this month, 479 school employees in San Diego, California have voted to decertify SEIU Local 221 in favor of their own, independent union.
• One SeaTac resident alleges that SEIU Local 775 illegally registered 1,600 people who voted in the election that passed a $15 minimum wage in the area.