Sunday, November 8, 2015

It official: 700 Workers at Two California Hospitals Dump SEIU-UHW, Join NUHW


Last week, the NLRB officially certified the results of an election in which approximately 700 workers at Seton Medical Center and Seton Coastside Hospital voted to leave SEIU-UHW and join NUHW. The two hospitals are located just south of San Francisco, California.

In March of 2014, the workers -- who’d been members of SEIU-UHW for many years -- voted to join NUHW after SEIU-UHW's Dave Reagan teamed up with hospital's bosses to eliminate workers’ defined-benefit pension plan, slash their health benefits, and implement other cuts to workers' wages, benefits and working conditions.

Regan jammed the unpopular cuts down workers’ throats by orchestrating a ramrod ratification vote that violated SEIU-UHW's own Constitution.

In March of 2014, workers voted to ditch SEIU-UHW and join NUHW. Next, SEIU-UHW filed multiple legal appeals in an attempt to overturn the workers' decision.

On November 2, 2015 -- nearly 20 months after workers voted to dump SEIU-UHW -- the NLRB's highest body tossed out all of SEIU-UHW's challenges after noting that SEIU-UHW failed to present any credible evidence in support of its claims.

Why did it take the NLRB nearly 20 months to reach a decision, especially when SEIU-UHW couldn't even back up its allegations? Observers say it's a reflection of SEIU's inappropriate influence inside the NLRB.


Congratulations to Seton workers for their persistence and determination! 

More to follow.