On Monday October 11, I visited a Kaiser facility to show my continuing support for NUHW. On the 18th, ballots go out so that Optical, Social Service,and IBHS units can vote to leave SEIU for NUHW, or opt to stay. Understandibly, NUHW supporters who just lost their election were a little disheartened,but still showed their unbreakable spirit by showing up for work in red,gathering together for lunch, and offering their support to professionals in their upcoming election.
During my visit I learned that SEIU has already begun to show it's true colors. A member who has been in the float pool for almost 2 years has been promised conversion to a benefited position for the majority of that time. In the months leading up to the election, this member expressed his support for NUHW but refused to wear any red for fear that SEIU would retaliate by not getting him converted. NUHW supporters tried to tell this member that SEIU and Kaiser could convert him any time they wanted. Why was his conversion dependent on the results of the election? SEIU was already his union. He was already paying dues to this union in exchange for their "representation". He refused to openly support NUHW and waited for the conversion he was promised by SEIU reps "right after the election". On Sunday this member happily anounced to coworkers that his conversion would happen Wednesday, and that there was a meeting scheduled for that purpose. By Monday at lunchtime, news was spreading that his meeting had been cancelled.
NUHW supporters are not suprised by this. We knew that SEIU had made lots of false promises, including a rumored promise to a member that she would receive double her retirement if she voted for SEIU! All grievances were put on hold with promises from SEIU stewards that right after the election, these grievances would be attended to and taken " strait to the top". Rumors are quickly spreading that other meetings regarding grievances are being cancelled. Apparently, all outstanding grievances are being taken strait to the top of the garbage pile.
The saddest news I heard on Monday was that NUHW organizing committee members were receiving calls from fellow supporters who were in tears. They apologized and said that they were so afraid of losing their contract and benefits that they did not fill out their ballots and mail them in! They believed that Kaiser and SEIU would find out how they voted and retaliate! They felt that support was so strong for NUHW in their facility that their votes would not be missed. If people in this facility were afraid, think how frightened people were in facilities where support for NUHW was not as strong! It's hard to blame these members when both their union and their employer were telling them that they would lose everything if they voted to change unions.If only they had done their own research! FEDERAL LAW PROTECTS YOUR RIGHT TO CHANGE UNIONS!
Grievances are probably a low priority because SEIU is very busy planning celebration parties. These are rumors that can not be confirmed as yet because the parties are for SEIU paid staffers. Members have not been invited as far as I know. Hotel banquet rooms and hotel rooms are being paid for by member dues, but they will not be a part of the celebration that they are paying for. This is why union labor is weak in America today. Corrupt, dishonest unions like SEIU have given union labor a black eye and a bad reputation that will take years to repair. God help the labor movement.
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