SEIU shafting Washington members
Posted by Sonya Jones - June 03, 2008Even though a large portion of union dues for SEIU members are dedicated to politics, it is generally presumed that a state’s union members’ dues will go for political activities in that state or to a national cause that will affect that state’s members directly – for example, the governor’s race, the presidential race, and state legislative races.
Not so in Washington – SEIU members here will pay for political activities confined to other states:
In Washington state, the Service Employees International Union is the largest active union. But the new union rules will see more dues money from members here going to finance campaign activities in states more likely to decide the presidential election. David Rolf, president of SEIU Healthcare 775NW, said:
I think there’ll be an exporting of resources and talents to some of the swing states to mobilize union members. Rolf says SEIU will still be active in campaigns here. But, he said, “We aren’t seeing competitive races emerging all over the state.”
Some union members are upset about the centralization of power for the union:
That's ridiculous! This plan might possibly be the biggest centralization of power in a labor union in recent history. It moves millions of dollars in dues money from local unions to SEIU headquarters in Washington, D.C. It removes local presidents from key leadership positions in the International's leadership infrastructure, replacing them with the SEIU president's inner circle.
I am not sure why any member would be so surprised. From the SEIU bylaws and constitution:
We are public workers, health care workers, building service workers, office workers, professional workers, and industrial and allied workers. We seek a stronger union to build power for ourselves and to protect the people we serve.
(emphasis added) To that end, the SEIU plans to spend $75 million on elections this year. Not only that, but the SEIU already has committed to spending $10 million next year to pass a certain federal piece of union-friendly legislation.
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