More California Workers Bolt SEIU

The exodus from SEIU continues.

Yesterday, county workers in Kings County (which is just south of Fresno in California’s Central Valley) voted by a margin of 55% to 45% to decertify SEIU Local 521 and join a new independent union called the California League of City Employee Associations (CLOCEA). The new union now represents the county’s 650 employees.

SEIU employed its usual stalling tactics and delayed the election for nearly two years. Here’s an excerpt from a local newspaper article:

A nearly two-year battle for union representation of Kings County employees ended this week as workers picked a union with more local ties over the much larger Service Employees International Union.

The article goes on to note that “SEIU officials couldn’t be reached for comment.” Surprise, surprise.

The results are the latest in a string of election victories in which approximately 20,000 workers across California have bolted SEIU in recent years… from San Diego to Marin to Los Angeles to thousands of EMS workers in Northern California... and, of course, all of the healthcare workers who've joined NUHW.

Here’s the complete article about yesterday’s election:

The Hanford Sentinel

SEIU loses election to local union

Fierce battle ends with employees choosing group with county ties

February 06, 2013 4:30 pm  •  By Seth Nidever

HANFORD — A nearly two-year battle for union representation of Kings County employees ended this week as workers picked a union with more local ties over the much larger Service Employees International Union.

Bill Shawhan, the administrator of election winner California League of City Employee Associations, panned SEIU, accusing it of charging higher dues, spending money on partisan political campaigns and alienating workers.

“I feel that the employees were vindicated,” Shawhan said. “CLOCEA doesn’t get involved in partisan politics. We’re not involved in money going to Sacramento or Washington, D.C.”

SEIU officials couldn’t be reached for comment. The large international union, which boasts membership of 2.1 million workers, retains a small group of approximately 45 blue-collar Kings County employees, Shawhan said.

Shawhan was fired by the Service Employees International Union Local 521 in 2011. He responded by forming CLOCEA, which has been locked in a battle with SEIU ever since.

County employees petitioned to get out of SEIU in 2011, but had to wait a year due to a technicality. An election was finally held in December, but neither side received the necessary 50 percent-plus-one majority.

That forced another vote in January.

The final count to determine who would represent a bargaining unit of 645 county employees was tallied up Monday, giving Shawhan’s organization 55 percent, or 179 votes, compared to 45 percent, or 144 votes, for SEIU.

Turnout was 55 percent.

Kings County Supervisor Joe Neves said he was surprised when Shawhan got fired by SEIU and not surprised that SEIU finally lost.

“You know, [Shawhan’s] local, he’s accessible,” Neves said. “I think it does make a difference when you deal with someone who lives in the community.”

“I think [SEIU] picked a battle that they thought they could win, and [Shawhan] hung right in there,” Neves added. “They threw him some pretty hard punches. He took every one of them and kept fighting. You’ve got to give him that much.”