tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35483077028322422362008-10-15T23:47:19.903-07:00SEIU Member Activists for Reform Today (SMART) is an organization of rank-and-file members of SEIU who believe that members are the real source of strength for our Union and the people behind every victory.reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-66742704729208414662008-10-15T23:26:00.000-07:002008-10-15T23:29:27.919-07:00

Ellen Dillinger is a UHW member and a great cartoonist, this is her first cartoon in a series about our struggle for democracy in SEIU. Ellen and Dik Wood, a CSEA member keep 'a journal of the events that attract our attention and participation, recorded in photo-essay and cartoon' at www.dillingertoons.net, where you can find more of Ellen's work, and photos and commentary on union and

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-20820347623394037252008-09-21T20:30:00.000-07:002008-09-21T20:32:02.291-07:00

Who: Inside - top SEIU officials who've gone to increasing lengths to crush any criticism or discussion in SEIU. Outside - thousands of members of UHW and other locals who are taking back control of our labor movement. What: The trusteeship hearing where SEIU will try to push through a hostile takeover of UHW. When: September 26th (Friday) and 27th (Saturday). Where: Fiesta Hall, San Mateo

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-31845813539019790232008-09-21T18:39:00.000-07:002008-09-21T18:42:46.493-07:00

"United Healthcare Workers West's rank-and-file leadership has filed a lawsuit against Andy Stern and Anna Burger for their campaign of systematically trying to silence the members ­of UHW who are spe­aking out against Stern and Burger's power ­grabs. The lawsuit (available here) notes several actions taken by Stern's inner circle--including threats of a politically motivated trusteeship and

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-37777380507265417202008-09-21T18:22:00.000-07:002008-09-22T10:34:43.286-07:00

How SEIU's desperate attempts to crush reformers are undermining the union's commitment to electing Obama. Hundreds of staffers needed in battleground states are to be sent to California as SEIU attemps to take over UHW. By JB Powell, September 17th. "The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its 2 million members helped Obama defeat Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. Its

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-85299588230135721302008-09-17T23:55:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:52:46.323-07:00

SMART sheds light on some of SEIU's appointed local leaders, international officers and shadowy staff and trustees. A brief guide that we will be updating often. Please let us know if there's something or someone we should include.

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-61709763756533399652008-09-17T23:38:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:38:00.131-07:00

The LA Times reports that SEIU has removed Tyrone Freeman from the payroll, released their own report on his misuse of our dues, and turned their information over to federal criminal authorities. SEIU's own report describes even more misuse of member's money than was originally alleged by the LA Times, including that "Freeman spent dues-payers' funds on his 2006 wedding and a Santa Barbara

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-389046830811145962008-09-17T23:18:00.000-07:002008-09-17T23:34:13.686-07:00

A new article by Steve Early and Cal Winslow reports and analyzes recent events in our struggle for real democracy, including SEIU's attacks on UHW, corruption among appointed leadership, and our "Take Back SEIU" tour. "How did a national union culture, long touted as one of labor’s most dynamic and progressive, engender such a mess? How did it produce a Tyrone Freeman and the kind of press

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-56998614395896756462008-09-04T02:39:00.000-07:002008-09-04T02:41:01.256-07:00

Herman Benson of the Association for Union Democracy and Ken Paff of Teamsters for a Democratic Union respond to Stern's claims that he will consult with them on a new "code of ethics" for SEIU officials. "Why does he need a new code of ethics?" said Herman Benson, founder of the Assn. for Union Democracy. "People didn't know that what they were doing was wrong? It's preposterous." Stern told

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-33813508650357051642008-09-03T01:10:00.000-07:002008-09-03T01:13:31.875-07:00

Andy Stern announces a new ethics committee in response to a flood of corruption reports - it's a victory for member democracy activists who've shed light on some of the darkest parts of SEIU, but a self-serving attempt by Stern to do the minimum to save himself. New York Times: Union Seeks Stronger Ethics Rules Amid Scandals Wall Street Journal: SEIU Creates Ethics Panel to Boost Oversight

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-65368691059115823092008-08-31T02:13:00.000-07:002008-09-04T02:23:26.874-07:00

And her "former boyfriend" Alejandro Stephens is ordered to return tens of thousands of dollars he received from Local 721 and the California state council. SMART leaders Ron Tanner and Art Diaz are quoted in the latest of a stream of reports on corruption within appointed SEIU leadership. Both Grajeda (left) and Stephens are to be investigated after a complaint filed by 721 members. Grajeda has

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-25025338613516257492008-08-28T15:57:00.000-07:002008-08-28T16:21:34.309-07:00

SMART member Dan Mariscal on the damage corruption does to our labor movement. There was a dark time in America when the name "Unions" were synonymous with greed and corruption. The members, rank and file, of these organizations have worked long, hard and have endured much to try and change the public perception of their organizations. As it is true with some of the most prominent leaders and

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-9367753484299802252008-08-28T12:01:00.000-07:002008-08-28T13:28:44.652-07:00

And now also at Michigan Healthcare. Rickman Jackson (left), Stern appointed president of the Michigan healthcare local takes "a leave of absence" after he is implicated in the corruption at 6434 (where he used to be Freeman's chief of staff). Freeman was using Jackson's home address as the address for his dubious housing corporation, and Jackson was on the payroll at 6434 until last year,

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-76629112918890587782008-08-20T23:05:00.000-07:002008-08-21T19:19:00.681-07:00

So after a stream of corruption reports - cigar clubs, golf tournaments, nepotism, rigged elections - Local 6434 president Tyrone Freeman resigned Wednesday night. Over the last two weeks, union members and the local community stepped up to say that a union where members are silenced and shut out is not a union at all, and that it is never ok to live like a millionaire by stealing from poor

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-63908449359256722922008-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:002008-08-21T19:20:53.734-07:00

Local 1985 member Tony Kin (pictured) reports on SEIU’s messy trusteeship that’s left their local in the hands of a distant business-model union. Why have members who were excited about reforming their local with SEIU’s support heard almost nothing from the international and nothing good from NAGE? Aren’t trusteeships supposed to bring corrupt locals out into the light and create modern,

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-58841644969440252008-08-20T18:13:00.000-07:002008-08-20T18:41:22.347-07:00

"President Stern, are you going to allow a local that strongly identifies with SEIU to be sucked into an affiliate that adamantly doesn’t, without a debate or vote? Is that “Justice for All”?" May 20, 2008 Andrew L. Stern, International President, SEIU, CTW, CLC 1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 Dear President Stern, We want our union back. We want the right to elect our

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-40586756917948237082008-08-17T01:17:00.000-07:002008-08-17T21:32:47.041-07:00

"The U.S. Labor Department is investigating allegations that Tyrone Freeman's union local made it nearly impossible for candidates not on his slate to qualify for the ballot." In their second investigative story in ten days (previously) the LA Times raises serious questions about democracy at Local 6434. Members are challenging the local's officer elections, and could win a new vote. Local 6434

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-91415763852133267562008-08-15T00:22:00.000-07:002008-09-03T00:26:23.247-07:00

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE September 3, 2008 The Service Employees International Union, the nation’s fastest-growing and most politically powerful union, said Tuesday it was setting up a high-level ethics commission after scandals at several of its largest locals. Andrew L. Stern, the union’s president, said in an interview that this commission would be led by an outsider and would establish tougher

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-17197195623450391502008-08-15T00:14:00.000-07:002008-09-03T00:26:49.385-07:00

By KRIS MAHER September 3, 2008; Page A20 Leaders of the Service Employees International Union plan to announce the formation of an ethics committee in the wake of allegations of misspending by union officials at several big locals. The purpose of the committee would be to improve oversight of union leaders. It also would address complaints that although the union under President Andy Stern has

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-2637318669724694142008-08-09T17:17:00.000-07:002008-08-18T12:10:53.362-07:00

A front page LA Times article today (August 9th) describes an incredible level of corruption at Local 6434 (ULTCW). The article alleges among other things, that President Tyrone Freeman paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to companies operated by his wife and mother in law, and spent almost $10,000 at the Grand Havana Room (pictured), "a cigar lounge known for its celebrity clientele and

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-42910389111978530782008-08-01T23:55:00.000-07:002008-08-17T22:47:39.230-07:00

Larry Bradshaw, Paramedic, San Francisco Fire Department Credit: Socialist Worker THIS YEAR, I was elected by my co-workers to be a delegate to the SEIU International Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I have been asked to share my experiences and my thoughts on that convention. When I was checking out of my very expensive hotel in San Juan (paid for with member dues), I ran into some folks

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-21144130709027223122008-08-01T20:47:00.000-07:002008-08-17T20:48:29.064-07:00

Maya Morris - Surgical Coordinator, St. Francis Memorial Hospital The SEIU Convention ended "not with a bang, but a whimper," to borrow a line from T.S. Eliot. Confetti-filled celebrations filled the opening hours of the convention today, but the last hours were punctuated with delays and confusion over SEIU’s internal election. In the midst of the election chaos, our convention blogger

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-63937503909313034232008-08-01T14:49:00.000-07:002008-08-17T21:59:43.861-07:00

More news, links, and commentary on the member reform movement at the SEIU 2008 convention: Labor Notes - Mark Brenner on the convention, our challenges to international management's program,and our reform movement. New York Times: "the (SEIU) is about to jettison a time-honored union tradition - having members go to their union representatives with their questions and grievances." Labor Notes

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-70091134523410581912008-05-01T17:24:00.000-07:002008-08-17T21:27:03.052-07:00

To: Wardell Henderson, Janet Rodriguez, Lonnie Stoddard, Local 775NW From: SEIU Member Activists for Reform Today (SMART) Members Brothers and Sisters: We are heartened to hear that you share SMART's commitment to member-driven, rank and file democracy throughout SEIU. SMART is composed of rank and file members across many local unions in every division of SEIU. SMART was alarmed to hear of

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-37314569793696709642008-05-01T15:13:00.000-07:002008-08-17T19:27:21.360-07:00

By Dan Mariscal, SEIU Local 347 AS THE MEDIA becomes more aware of an internal struggle for power at SEIU's Administrative level, the rank and file become more aware that the focus has been taken away from the real issues that affect them the most; union democracy. The battle between the International President, Andy Stern, and the leadership of United HealthCare Worker's West, Sal Rosselli

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3548307702832242236.post-70767323019357193022008-05-01T13:24:00.000-07:002008-08-17T19:04:00.574-07:00

As SEIU members who attended the Labor Notes conference held on April 11-13, 2008 in Dearborn, Michigan, we denounce the attempts by SEIU International to violently disrupt a fundraising banquet on Saturday, April 12 attended by nearly one thousand labor activists from around the world who gathered to discuss ways to rebuild labor’s power. Seven busloads of SEIU staff and members (mostly from

reformseiuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717766635249672955noreply@blogger.com