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| Myriam Escamilla |
Dave Regan has axed one of SEIU-UHW’s top staff directors,
according to staffers. Tasty confirmed that Myriam Escamilla, who served as the Director of SEIU-UHW’s Hospital
Division, is no longer employed at the union.
Escamilla
was so close to Regan that he placed her on the Executive Committee of
SEIU-UHW’s Executive Board. Last year, she
pocketed $162,415 in pay, according to records filed with the US Department of
Labor.
She also has
a long relationship with Greg
Pullman, Regan’s Chief of Staff. The pair formerly worked together at SEIU Local 521 before teaming up at
SEIU-UHW.
Not anymore.
Escamilla
was well known for her tantrums,
tirades, bullying, and Machiavellian scheming, according to staffers.
One staffer told Tasty: “Myriam's
reputation for abusing staff -- including public humiliation -- is
well-deserved.” A former staffer at Local 521 calls her a “primo
backstabber.”
After Regan
parachuted into California, Escamilla joined with Regan like two peas
in a pod.
Bullying?
Check.
Arrogant?
Check.
Tirades?
Check.
Backroom
deals with bosses? Check.
Perhaps
that’s why staffers reportedly tagged her with nicknames like “Attila the Hun”
and “El Diablo.”
In one
memorable incident, an SEIU-UHW staffer described how Escamilla fired
him during his first week on the job after he expressed reluctance at
“donating” part of his paycheck to Regan’s election fund.
Another
staffer wrote: “She has caused such divisions in UHW staff by terminating and
harassing staff. Many staff are out on stress or in line for termination.”
Oh, and
don’t forget Myriam’s other stand-out qualities: dishonesty and incompetence.
In 2012,
Escamilla famously negotiated a
backroom deal that allowed California’s largest nursing home company to
slash SEIU-UHW members’ wages and benefits. After inking the deal, she
carefully hid it from workers. And when workers questioned her, she blatantly
lied to them. Which explains why workers decided to decertify
SEIU-UHW and join NUHW.
In another memorable
incident, Escamilla forgot
to file a ULP charge in advance of a strike by 160 workers, allowing the
boss to lock out 38 workers for months and months.
Escamilla’s
reganesque style and her willingness to forfeit workers and principles in order
to elevate her position explains her lengthy tenure alongside Regan.
So what
caused Regan to axe her?
At this
point, it’s not clear.
Tipsters should drop Tasty a line at tastysternburger@gmail.com
