Ever wonder what would happen to SEIU if they had to compete
in honest elections? Well, check out this email from a reader in the San
Francisco Bay Area. It describes what happened to Dave Regan and Co. when they couldn’t rig
the election for a position at the Alameda County Central Labor Council.
For the last few months, SEIU-UHW staffer Doug Jones has been demanding a seat on the Executive Board of the Alameda County Labor Council, one of the most influential in the state. Jones didn't endear himself when he attacked California Nurses Association member Martha Kuhl, who is the Labor Council's Vice President. Back in the days of Local 250, Jones would have been a shoo-in. [A Tip to Tasty's Readers: before 2005, SEIU-UHW was called “Local 250.”] Local 250 always had a spot and was one of the most active and respected unions in the council. Not anymore. When a vacancy occurred last month, Dougie immediately threw his hat in the ring. Certain delegates recruited a member of a small chapter of the School Employees Association to run for the spot.At Monday nights delegate meeting, there was an unusually heavy turnout. On a per capita vote, and with the backing of other SEIU Locals, who make up 30% of the council, our boy Doug LOST by a 2-to-1 margin. Almost every other union in the council showed up to register their disgust at SEIU-UHW's tactics. Support for NUHW in the Council is only growing. Doug didn't even bother to show up for his own election, which was probably a good thing. Several delegates were heard to exclaim that this probably meant that SEIU-UHW would quit the Council (again) and that it would be good riddance to bad rubbish.
Good riddance, Dougie!
