Insiders Describe Failures, Mistreatment and Firings inside SEIU-UHW

Dave Regan

Sources have offered more details about Dave Regan’s recent firing of Myriam Escamilla,  who formerly headed SEIU-UHW’s Hospital Division. They also describe a culture of bullying, abuse and mistreatment of SEIU-UHW staff.

One SEIU-UHW staffer writes: "I could write a book about how fucked up Dave Regan and his gang of fascist upper staff [are]."

Why was Escamilla fired?

According to one source, Regan reportedly canned her because she allowed Dignity Health and HCA to eliminate their financial contributions to SEIU-UHW’s Education and Training Fund during negotiations.

Prior to SEIU’s 2009 trusteeship, Sal Rosselli and his team negotiated contract provisions that required the two multi-billion dollar companies to contribute millions of dollars a year to an education and training fund to allow workers to go back to school to train for higher-paid positions inside the healthcare industry.

In a separate report to Tasty, an SEIU-UHW staffer sent along the following note about Escamilla, Regan, Chief of Staff Greg Pullman, and other SEIU-UHW officials, who reportedly “totally mistreat the staff.” (FYI, Paul Matakiewicz is a former supervisor in SEIU-UHW’s Hospital Division.)

Myriam came in and destroyed the whole division. She was a raging, racist bitch. She totally harassed and set up Paul Matakiewicz to be forced out after the years he help build that division. 

…She only had that job because she had once been married to Greg Pullman. I'm glad she was fired. She and other upper staff have tried everything they can to force out a current staffer who is disabled, but had never let it interfere with her work. They've tried to set up up, fuck with her numbers and turn members against her. This really speaks well of a "workers union." I could write a book about how fucked up Dave Regan and his gang of fascist upper staff.

Dave Regan Axes Top Staffer at SEIU-UHW

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

Dave Regan: "I want a higher salary than the presidents of the Steelworkers and UAW"

SEIU-UHW's Dave Regan

Should SEIU-UHW President Dave Regan earn more than the international presidents of the United Auto Workers at the United Steel Workers?

Doesn’t make sense, right?

After all, Leo Gerard (USW) and Dennis Williams (UAW) lead international unions with four to six times as many members as Regan’s local union in California. In 2016, the UAW had 415,963 members while the USW had 548,033.

Nonetheless, that didn’t stop “Wall Street” Dave Regan from pocketing a higher salary in 2016, according to the unions’ DOL Forms LM-2.

In fact, SEIU-UHW’s second-highest paid official, Dave Kieffer, also earned more than the USW’s Gerard and the UAW’s Williams.

Here’s a rundown of their pay, according to Forms LM-2:

Dave Regan, SEIU-UHW President:  $224,706

Dave Kieffer, SEIU-UHW Director of Governmental Relations:  $210,909

Leo Gerard, International President of United Steelworkers:  $207,289

Dennis Williams, International President of United Auto Workers:  $184,159

SEIU-UHW's David Kieffer

A quick glance through SEIU-UHW’s recently filed disclosure report reveals that ten SEIU-UHW officials pocketed more than $150,000 during 2016. The list is below.

And take a look at their job descriptions.

Is it really necessary for one local union to have a Director of Governmental Relations, a Director of Public Affairs, a Director of Healthcare Policy and Advocacy, and a Political Director -- all earning more than $150K a year?

• Dave Regan, President:  $224,706
• Dave Kieffer, Director of Governmental Relations:  $210,909
• Kathy Ochoa, Director of Healthcare Policy and Advocacy:  $179,572
• Stan Lyles, Vice President:  $176,230
• Steve Trossman, Director of Public Affairs:  $170,494
• David Miller, Assistant to the President for Strategic Campaigns:   $168,974
• Myriam Escamilla, Hospital Division Director:   $162,415
• Greg Pullman, Chief of Staff:  $153,980
• Chokri Bensaid, Kaiser Division Director:  $152,860
• Cass Gualvez, Organizing Director:   $152,521
• Arianna Jimenez, Political Director:   $152,227

Glad there are unions like NUHW, whose constitution speaks volumes about the union's democratic values by prohibiting the union's president from earning more than the highest-paid rank-and-file member.

SEIU-UHW's Membership Plummets by 40%, While Profits Skyrocket

Last week, SEIU-UHW sent its annual "LM-2" report to the U.S. Department of Labor with details about its membership, finances, and staff salaries.

Here’s what jumps out from a quick read.

SEIU-UHW’s total membership plummeted sharply during 2015, with the union losing 52,000 members – or almost 40% of its membership. SEIU-UHW’s membership declined from 140,886 to 88,694 members by the end of 2015.

That's because last June, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and the SEIU International Executive Board ordered SEIU-UHW to transfer more than 50,000 long-term care members to Los Angeles-based SEIU Local 2015, headed by Henry's ally Laphonza Butler.

Despite this dramatic decline in membership, however, SEIU-UHW is rolling in the dough thanks to a dues increase that SEIU-UHW President Dave Regan pushed onto the union's members. The increase has left workers paying as much as $144 in union dues per month.

So how much money did SEIU-UHW make last year?

The union reported a profit of $16.6 million – which translates into a profit margin of more than 14%. To put that into perspective, it’s higher than Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola.

For-profit unionism? How "21st century," right?

What does SEIU-UHW do with the profits?

According to last week's filing, Regan is stockpiling massive amounts of cash in the union's bank account. SEIU-UHW's "cash" jumped from $34.8 million on January 1, 2015 to $51.4 million by the end of the year, according to financial disclosures. See an excerpt below from the union's 2015 LM-2 form.

SEIU-UHW's DOL Form LM-2 for 2015

Meanwhile, a number of SEIU-UHW officials are cashing in on the gravy train.

In 2015, Regan pocketed a $30,000 pay increase that boosted his annual pay by 14% to $243,734.

Regan's "Deputy Chief of Staff," Triana Silton, got a $30,000 pay increase that boosted her take-home pay to $132,052.

Other over-paid officials at SEIU-UHW include...

Dave Kieffer (Director of Government Relations): $204,345

Steve Trossman (Director of Public Affairs): $173,029

Myriam Escamilla (Hospital Division Director): $175,260

David Miller (Special Assistant to the President): $166,340

Why do SEIU-UHW's staff and officers earn so much? 

Unlike unions like the National Union of Healthcare Workers, SEIU-UHW doesn't have a constitution that blocks the union's president and staff from earning more than the union's members.

Stay tuned. More to follow.

Myriam's Charm Offensive Gets Rave Reviews

SEIU-UHW's Myriam Escamilla

Myriam Escamilla has continued to wage a specialized ‘charm offensive’ ever since Dave Regan placed her atop the union's Hospital Division earlier this year, says an SEIU-UHW staff person.

Back in June, Tasty relayed reports from UHW staffers who described how co-workers had tagged Escamilla with nicknames like "Attila the Hun" and “El Diablo” after she used tantrums and tirades to bully staff. 

In recent days, an SEIU-UHW staffer sent the following note in response to the title of Tasty’s recent post: “SEIU-UHW’s Dave Regan: "I'm Kaiser's bitch” (Part 2).”

What about Myriam Escamilla? She's the New Head Bitch in charge of the Hospital Division.

She has caused such divisions in UHW staff by terminating and harassing staff. Many staff are out on stress or in line for termination. In 2012 we had a staff person who shot and killed himself due to the pressure of Eric Kizziee, Hal Ruddick, Greg Pullman and Dave Regan. The things that were never made known was the phone message that he left regarding why he was ending his life due to the people listed above. He left this on all their phone lines including Cedars-Sinai [Medical Center].

Eric Kizziee has done so many negative things that now he kisses Myriam's, Greg Pullman’s and Dave Regan’s ass in order to keep his job.

Lots of Hospital Division facilities are looking to decertify UHW because there's no representation anymore. Myriam claims she’s so knowledgeable, but she can't even answer basic questions from staff. And she can't ask Greg Maron, because he has no knowledge of representation.

Sounds like a great place to work, right?

That's not all. 

In addition to abusing her staff, Escamilla is super adept at screwing workers.

In 2012, she signed a secret deal with a nursing home company called Brius Healthcare that slashed workers' wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions. When workers confronted her, Escamilla denied that she had made any back-room deals with their Boss… until workers presented a copy of the secret deal with her signature on it!

Now, SEIU-UHW’s own staffers are getting a chance to enjoy Myriam’s abundant talents!

“Get me outa here!”

Myriam Escamilla

Some SEIU staffers call her a “Primo Backstabber.”

Others say she’s a modern day "Attila the Hun" who uses tantrums and tirades to bully “her” staff.

Now… in the latest chapter of this purple drama, SEIU-UHW’s staffers have reportedly tagged Myriam Escamilla with a brand new nickname: “El Diablo.”

Escamilla is reportedly so disliked by Union Reps that they’re literally rushing for the exit signs.

Here's what's happening.

Escamilla was recently appointed as the director of SEIU-UHW’s Hospital Division after Dave Regan transferred the former director, Hal Ruddick, to fill John August’s sticky seat over at the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.  

Since then, SEIU-UHW’s Union Reps have been subjected to Myriam’s “charm offensives” (aka, screaming fits)… which are producing a wave of requests to transfer out of Escamilla’s control.

Meanwhile, the rank-and-file workers in SEIU-UHW’s “Nursing Home Division” are offering some serious words of advice for SEIU-UHW’s hospital workers. They say Escamilla is incompetent and a liar.

In 2012, Escamilla signed a secret deal with a Los Angeles-based company called “Brius” that slashed nursing home workers’ wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions.

And that's not all.

Escamilla blatantly lied to workers. She told them she was not making back-room deals with their Boss… until workers showed her a copy of the secret deal with her signature on it! 

Soon thereafter, workers voted unanimously to decertify SEIU-UHW.

Despite her rap sheet that’s almost as long as John August’s, there's virtually zero chance that either Regan or his "Chief of Staff" Greg Pullman will take any action against Escamilla.

Dave Regan

Why?

Escamilla has raised lots of cold hard cash for Regan's reelection campaigns. In return, Regan rewarded Escamilla with a fat salary ($143,129 in 2013) and a position on Regan’s “Executive Committee.”

In one memorable episode, an SEIU-UHW staffer filed an NLRB "Unfair Labor Practice Charge" against Escamilla after Myriam tried to shake the staffer down for a cash contribution to Regan’s reelection fund during the staffer's first week on the job!

And... it’s just as unlikely that Pullman will take any action against her. Why? Escamilla is Pullman’s “ex-wife.”

It’s a perfect purple storm of nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.

Sources: Turmoil Grips SEIU-UHW as $1.5M Goes Missing

Sources describe a chaotic scene inside SEIU UHW’s education and training fund amid reports that “$1.5 million has gone missing.”   

According to Tasty's sources, recent weeks have seen the firing of staffers, the freezing of various accounts, and an influx of outsiders who are busily reviewing the organization's books. Last week, the fund’s Director of Finance, Victor Madamba, was suddenly removed from his job.

The SEIU-UHW Education and Training Fund is a nonprofit organization with an annual budget of more than $10 million. Its revenues come from government agencies and healthcare corporations like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and Sutter Health.

The fund is supposed to train workers to take jobs in the healthcare industry. But since taking control of the fund, SEIU’s Dave Regan has tried to use the fund to advance his personal interests.

In recent years, Regan and SEIU-UHW staffer Triana Silton directed the fund's staff to campaign on behalf of SEIU-UHW during the giant NLRB elections at Kaiser Permanente, which is a blatant violation of the nonprofit organization's independent status and federal law.

Two of Kaiser's execs sit on the fund's Board of Directors: Arlene Peasnall (VP of Human Resources) and Jim Simpson (Senior VP of Business Units outside of California). SEIU-UHW’s Triana Silton also sits on the board, where she's been joined by a “who’s who” of Regan’s best buddies, including Joe Simoes, Hal Ruddick and Myriam Escamilla.

The missing $1.5 million is just the latest scandal to mark Regan’s tenure at SEIU-UHW. Stay tuned for more news!

More California Workers Bolt SEIU-UHW... 5 Victories in a Row for NUHW!

Last Friday, workers at a nursing home in the San Francisco Bay Area voted unanimously to join NUHW!

This latest win caps a string of five election victories for NUHW in the past month. Three of the elections were by non-union workers at Kindred Healthcare and Sutter Health and two were among workers who decertified SEIU-UHW to join NUHW.

Friday’s election at a nursing home in San Rafael offers another startling chapter in the tale of fraud and deception that SEIU-UHW’s Dave Regan has brought to California.

Here’s what happened.

Last year, SEIU-UHW’s Myriam Escamilla conducted secret negotiations with the workers’ boss… and then signed a full contract without ever talking to the workers!

The story gets worse.

Workers heard some buzz from their supervisors about the negotiations, so they repeatedly asked SEIU-UHW: “Are you negotiating with our boss?” 

Escamilla -- who now directs SEIU-UHW's Hospital Division -- boldly lied to workers, telling them “No.” But workers soon discovered that SEIU-UHW had allowed the Boss to slash their benefits, working hours, and other conditions.

Myriam Escamilla

After repeatedly confronting Escamilla, workers forced her to show them the secret agreement. Workers then forced Escamilla to put it to a vote of the membership. Workers voted it down unanimously! And then filed a petition to decertify SEIU-UHW and join NUHW!

In typical fashion, SEIU-UHW launched its stall-and-delay tactics at the NLRB, which held up the election for more than half a year. 

But as last Friday’s election finally drew near, SEIU-UHW officials acknowledged they had zero support among the workers… So, just 48 hours before the election, SEIU-UHW formally withdrew from the election and workers voted unanimously to join NUHW.

Congrats to the workers for prevailing in their lengthy fight to free themselves from the purple tentacles!  

More California Healthcare Workers Are Bolting SEIU-UHW

Last week, workers at a nursing home in Northern California requested an NLRB election to join NUHW. Recently, workers discovered that their current union, SEIU-UHW, inked a secret deal with their Boss to slash workers' wages, benefits and even their working hours.

Here’s how one worker at San Rafael Healthcare and Wellness Center described it:

SEIU lied to our faces for months, telling us they weren’t bargaining in secret with our boss. But they were. And five months later, we finally got a copy of the deal they signed. With one secret deal, SEIU has destroyed all of the benefits and standards that we’d slowly built up over 25 years of bargaining.

Sources tell Tasty that Myriam Escamilla, the director of SEIU-UHW’s Nursing Home Division, is the official who signed the backdoor deal... and then refused to give copies to workers and refused to even disclose that she was bargaining with their Boss. Last year, Escamilla pocketed $138,756 in pay from SEIU-UHW, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Since Escamilla’s dirty deal, the nursing home company has boosted workers’ share of health care premiums to more than $700 a month for family coverage. And the company has slashed workers’ vacations, sick pay, holidays and work hours. Sources tell Tasty that the company also cut the work hours of part-time workers to 19 hours a week so they’re no longer eligible for any benefits whatsoever.

Workers also report that SEIU-UHW reps are totally MIA when workers need help.

Last week, more than 90% of the workers signed a petition to dump SEIU-UHW and join NUHW.