Update SEIU UHW

UHW......United Healthcare Workers West and SEIU have been having a spat. They don't agree on the best Union structure for Heathcare workers. This argument resulted in SEIU filing a lawsuit against members of UHW claiming a number of either illegal uses of members money.
Here is the current UHW press release. I don't know that I can make a judgment call on this one but I think we need to stay up with what is happening with the SEIU because it can affect us and the public perception of our Union.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 23, 2008 CONTACT: Sadie Crabtree, 323-365-2083 scrabtree@seiu-uhw.org

Victory for Reformers—Judge Tosses Out SEIU’s

Nuisance Lawsuit Against California Members

U.S. District Court dismisses all claims against members of United Healthcare Workers -West

LOS ANGELES—All charges in a lawsuit by the Washington D.C.-based Service Employees International Union (SEIU), SEIU President Andrew Stern and Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger against local union members in California were dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter on Tuesday.

The court ruled that SEIU had brought no valid legal claim against members of United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) and the case was dismissed without the need for a hearing. The ruling entitles UHW members to compensation from SEIU for costs incurred as a result of the illegitimate lawsuit. UHW will seek full compensation on behalf of the ten members named in the suit.

“This was a PR stunt by the DC headquarters of SEIU to try to silence reformers within the union,” said Rosie Byers, a homecare worker for 30 years and member of the UHW Executive Board targeted by the lawsuit.

“The charges made against local union members had no legal basis. The only purpose of this suit was to harass and discredit members of UHW who had spoken out against Andy Stern’s and Anna Burger’s backroom deals with corporations that hurt healthcare workers and our patients.”

The lawsuit was filed one month before SEIU’s quadrennial convention, where delegates from SEIU’s local unions met in June to vote on policies and elected leaders. In the months leading up to the convention, UHW members had publicly advocated for democratic reforms that would have prevented secret “sweetheart deals” by ensuring members would have a say in all agreements with employers. SEIU President Andrew Stern, Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and other union officials in Washington, D.C. opposed these changes.

The 150,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the largest, fastest-growing hospital and healthcare union in the western United States and represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional, technical and service classifications.. Our mission is to achieve high-quality healthcare for all.

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