Kaiser Workers: "SEIU-UHW Is Like a Wounded Beast"

SEIU: Stalking and knocking 24/7

Here’s the latest news from the Kaiser election... which offers more signs of desperation from SEIU-UHW.

First, workers report that SEIU organizers have become far more aggressive during their visits to workers’ homes... including stalking workers by waiting outside their homes until they return from work; calling workers’ relatives and trying to squeeze information and telephone numbers out of them; and spewing more outrageous lies and disinformation.

Meanwhile, at Kaiser Oakland Medical Center, workers report that SEIU-UHW Field Rep Vicki Jackson is literally begging workers for their votes -- just like Fola Afariogun did in recent days. Earlier this week, Vicki Jackson reportedly visited the hospital’s housekeeping department and began crying in front of workers in an effort to win sympathy votes. 

Here’s a report from one worker:

SEIU rep at oakland was crying and telling EVS workers she will miss them. But where was she when all the EVS workers were laid off 2 yrs ago? I bet they were crying too! And there are still many per diem EVS workers working full schedules for years who are not given the benefits they are legally entitled to!

Another worker wrote:

Where were you all when we needed you. we have a Seiu rep at Oakland Kaiser. not seen him for couple years. guess what. now, day and night, he's all over the Hospital. shame on you all.

Another worker said:

I'm sooo disgusted by SEIU I have no sympathy for whatever happens to the reps...sorry just being honest

So why are Jackson and Afariogun really crying? 

Because they know that they will never find such a cushy, six-figure, no-work job ever again! Last year, Jackson pocketed $103,447 from SEIU-UHW, according to the union’s Form LM-2! (Click image to enlarge it.)

Meanwhile... in Southern California, purple organizers are pushing the same “vote-for-me-cuz-I’m-pathetic” strategy.

At Kaiser Downey Medical Center’s Orchard Clinic, an SEIU-UHW shop steward reportedly ordered a mandatory meeting in the EVS Department so that SEIU-UHW's organizers could plead for workers’ votes. Apparently, the organizers told workers:  

SEIU is losing right now, and if we lose, then all the union staff will get fired.

Cry me some tears!  

So are workers buying what SEIU’s selling? 

The Purple Beast

Doesn’t sound like it. After all, these purple MoFos have been riding the six-figure gravy train for years while SEIU-UHW let Kaiser lay off 1,000 workers, cut workers' benefits and pensions, boost workloads, fire people at will, increase union dues… and even stick workers with a f*cking Partnership Tax!

Observers say SEIU's actions are signs of desperation. As one worker put it: “SEIU is like a wounded beast.”

So... will workers succeed in vanquishing the Purple Beast? 

It all depends on whether they get their ballots in the mail (ballots will not be counted unless the worker signs the back of the return envelope). And ballots must be in the hands of the NLRB by April 29 -- just twelve days away!

SEIU's Dave Regan Inks Deal to Subcontract SEIU-UHW Members' Jobs

Tasty hears that the workers at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, CA have become the latest victims of Dave Regan’s concessionary caravan. Soon, 10 percent of SEIU-UHW's members at the hospital will lose their jobs as the result of a subcontracting deal penned by Regan.

Here’s what’s happening.

The hospital -- which is owned by Sutter Health, the largest hospital company in Northern California -- pocketed more than $200 million in profits over the past two years.

Last Friday, SEIU-UHW and Sutter reached a tentative deal for a new labor contract covering the hospital’s 1,100 workers. The deal was reached after Regan “fast-tracked” the negotiations even though workers’ current labor contract doesn’t expire until December 31.

What’s in the tentative contract? Regan’s biggest concession is a deal to eliminate the jobs of nearly 100 SEIU-UHW members by allowing Sutter to subcontract their work to Utah. The soon-to-be-jobless union members are currently employed in the hospital’s business office.

Workers say it’s a massive concession. Why? Because workers’ current union contract strictly prohibits the hospital from subcontracting their jobs. Section 12 of the contract reads:

No further bargaining unit work will be subcontracted, except by the parties' mutual agreement.

Crystal clear, right? In fact, NUHW’s leaders were the ones who negotiated this language in the years before SEIU’s trustreeship. Workers say that over the years, Sutter tried to subcontract workers’ jobs but was unsuccessful because workers’ old union actually enforced the agreement.

Sutter's Pat Fry and SEIU's Dave Regan

Not anymore. Last month, Regan attended the first bargaining session with Sutter executives and signaled his willingness to roll over for the Boss by stating: “We can work with employers like Sutter Health.” Observers speculate that Regan has a special relationship with Sutter’s CEO Pat Fry, who plays a top role at the California Hospital Association.

What did Regan get for his massive concession? Annual pay increases of just 2% for the still-employed workers, an even bigger “wellness” program, and additional cuts to workers’ health insurance.

Yesterday, Regan and Co. reportedly began conducting membership votes to ratify the tentative agreement. Tasty hears that SEIU is experiencing serious opposition from workers, so Regan dispatched dozens of staffers to the hospital including Vicki Jackson, Fola Afariogun, Julie Kwiek, Vu Nguyen, Gabrielle Zwain and Leon Chow. Chow -- who suddenly has lots of free time on his hands -- apparently has been tasked with applying his special skills in voting fraud.

According to workers, as many as 15-18 SEIU staffers are stationed inside a single conference room where workers are supposed to cast their votes. Workers are already reporting a variety of SEIU’s ballot-rigging tricks, including missing ballot boxes, intimidation, and workers denied the right to vote.

Stay tuned for more reports.