Dave Regan is
reportedly considering a scheme to divert millions of dollars from SEIU-UHW
members’ strike fund so he can spend more money on political campaigns,
according to an inside source.
Here’s what the
source says:
Regan wants money to run
more statewide ballot initiatives, which he’s attempted to use (umm, very unsuccessfully)
in both California
and Arizona.
But ballot
initiatives are expensive.
Regan must hire signature-gatherers to collect
millions of signatures from voters to qualify each initiative for the ballot.
And then he must launch publicity campaigns to win public support.
In California, Regan
reportedly spent upwards of $30 million on failed ballot initiatives targeting
the California Hospital Association in hopes of inking a sweetheart
partnership agreement with hospital CEOs.
According to Tasty’s
source, Regan has considered using another source of money to fund more
ballot initiatives -- he thought about boosting SEIU-UHW members’ monthly union
dues. However, a dues increase would require a vote of the membership, which
Regan and his aides concluded he would lose.
So… Regan reportedly
began eyeing SEIU-UHW members’ strike fund.
What’s the strike
fund?
SEIU-UHW’s
Constitution (Article XV) says the “strike fund is to be used for any and all
strikes, strike-related activities, lockouts and to protect the integrity and
welfare of the Union as determined by the Executive Board.”
How’s it funded?
One dollar per month
is set aside from each member’s union dues to finance the strike fund,
according to the union's constitution.
So how can Regan get
his hands on the strike fund?
Apparently, he would
need to convince the Executive Board that funding ballot initiatives is somehow
a “strike-related activity” or is necessary “to protect the integrity and
welfare of the Union.”
What a joke, right?
If Executive Board
members buy into Regan’s fraudulent scheme, they’ll be leaving the union’s
members without a strike fund to defend against hospital corporations trying to slash
their wages and benefits.
Stay tuned.
