The election is over and something stinks. Former SEIU stewards stepped down, members joined our cause, and fifteen thousand people committed to vote for NUHW. When the ballots were counted, just over eleven thousand members voted for NUHW. Although this was a great accomplishment in the face of opposition from two giants (Kaiser and SEIU) with political clout and very deep pockets, something just doesn't seem right. In the months and weeks before this election, Kaiser allowed SEIU full access to it's facilities and resources, not for the purpose of representing employees, but for the purpose of campaigning. Kaiser also ignored documented incidents of SEIU threats and intimidation against workers right in the workplace. Why would any employer allow a union to threaten and harass its workers? Kaiser Permanente felt a real threat from NUHW. Ever since SEIU national put the local into trusteeship Kaiser has laid off workers, subcontracted jobs, Cut a percentage of lump sum retirement, and put existing employees into a "float pool" that essentially puts them in job security limbo. If NUHW had won, Kaiser would have had to go back to honoring the contract and treating its employees with dignity and respect.
The good news is,this fight is far from over. Federal election rules mandate that employers remain neutral in union elections. Kaiser was openly pro SEIU and NUHW supporters have documented proof. Kaiser workers were scared into voting for SEIU because their employer told them that they would lose their raises, their contract, and their representation if they did not. Unfortunately, members who didn't do their research believed the lies and folded like paper. When the documented truth gets this election overturned, members will have a chance to take a second look at their futures, hopefully without getting their livelihood threatened.
Watch the professional elections! Ballots go out on October the 18th. If the professionals vote for NUHW, members will be able to compare unions right in their own facilities and they will see that NUHW has true representation right in the facility. They will see that NUHW doesn't walk down the hallway holding hands with Kaiser management. By the way folks, union leadership is not supposed to meet secretly and bargain with management without your knowledge or consent! The union should be having lunch with its members, not behind closed doors with management! If you voted for SEIU, educate yourself about unions and about Kaiser's finances. Educate yourself about the federal laws that Kaiser and SEIU broke. Finally, when more layoffs happen,when you have to pay for health benefits, and when someone with less seniority gets weekends off and vacations approved while your are stuck with the shit end of the stick, maybe you will see who was telling the truth and who was lying.