SEIU

thugarchist wrote:

I'm in SEIU.

Thoughts?

thugarchist wrote:

mikus wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

I'm in SEIU.

Thoughts?

Well, I don't know what you mean.

Yeah, me neither. I guess just any info that'd be at all useful or of interest for a new member. I guess there'd be more of that if you were in the bay area.

Quote:

Is 1021 that new conglomeration public sector local?

Yup.

i used to be in it, but that was a good while ago, when
this guy was at the top. as a worker i got no help when i was axed by a sicko boss, and on another occasion i was threatened by another member because he could "tell" when someone wasn't in the union, although i was.

but i'm sure it's different now.

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

mikus wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

mikus wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

I'm in SEIU.

Thoughts?

Well, I don't know what you mean.

Yeah, me neither. I guess just any info that'd be at all useful or of interest for a new member. I guess there'd be more of that if you were in the bay area.

Quote:

Is 1021 that new conglomeration public sector local?

Yup.

Well, I'd go to a union meeting and see whats going on. I met some folks from your local in Baltimore last summer but I honestly don't know much about the public sector in SEIU. I'd be interested to see what 1021 is up to.

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

newyawka wrote:

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

This has been going on for a while:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-13/news/stern-reprimand/

Speaking of which, whats the low-down on CUE? They dont have a wikipedia entry and their website looks like it hasnt been updated since 2005.

gurley wrote:

newyawka wrote:

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

This has been going on for a while:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-13/news/stern-reprimand/

Eh, its fairly serious but really its just about convention coming up and Roselli wants to make a power play. Pretty ho hum and really just distracts from the actual mission of the union.

thugarchist wrote:

gurley wrote:

newyawka wrote:

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

This has been going on for a while:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-13/news/stern-reprimand/

Eh, its fairly serious but really its just about convention coming up and Roselli wants to make a power play. Pretty ho hum and really just distracts from the actual mission of the union.

I agree that its a power play. But he does bring up valid critiques. I agree with Stern's focus on organizing. But whats the point of organizing folks into undemocratic structures, making back room deals and cutting off any meaningful member involvement. 1021, after the merger, was forced to accept appointed e-board members and union officials. The members, in response, formed an elected "advisory council" that has no real power within the union. They are trying to bring back the democratic nature many of the former locals enjoyed but its an uphill battle.

thugarchist wrote:

gurley wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

gurley wrote:

newyawka wrote:

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

This has been going on for a while:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-13/news/stern-reprimand/

Eh, its fairly serious but really its just about convention coming up and Roselli wants to make a power play. Pretty ho hum and really just distracts from the actual mission of the union.

I agree that its a power play. But he does bring up valid critiques. I agree with Stern's focus on organizing. But whats the point of organizing folks into undemocratic structures, making back room deals and cutting off any meaningful member involvement. 1021, after the merger, was forced to accept appointed e-board members and union officials. The members, in response, formed an elected "advisory council" that has no real power within the union. They are trying to bring back the democratic nature many of the former locals enjoyed but its an uphill battle.

I disagree that he brings up any valid point at all. The guys a tyrant and is kicking people off his eboard for not agreeing with him right now. Amado just resigne. Etc, etc. Its hard to listen to democracy critiques from the right wing of the union.

Why do you consider Roselli to be on the right wing of the union? I know nothing about him other than the little links people have posted but his criticisms seem pretty sound. My only experience with the union so far is with the orientation provided to new hirees but the whole speech was very much about how the workers and bosses are partners, and so forth. If Roselli wants to lessen this tone I think that's a good thing. (Not that I think this would suddenly transform the union into some radical organ of class struggle.)

What am I missing?

Also, what exactly is the "mission" of the union?

thugarchist wrote:

mikus wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

gurley wrote:

thugarchist wrote:

gurley wrote:

newyawka wrote:

breaking news:

Quote:

A major battle brewing is within the Service Employees International Union, one of the country’s largest unions with 1.9 million members. Last week, executive committee member Sal Rosselli resigned in a blistering letter accusing union President Andy Stern of expanding his powers at members’ expense.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/15/seiu_members_face_off_in_dispute

This has been going on for a while:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-13/news/stern-reprimand/

Eh, its fairly serious but really its just about convention coming up and Roselli wants to make a power play. Pretty ho hum and really just distracts from the actual mission of the union.

I agree that its a power play. But he does bring up valid critiques. I agree with Stern's focus on organizing. But whats the point of organizing folks into undemocratic structures, making back room deals and cutting off any meaningful member involvement. 1021, after the merger, was forced to accept appointed e-board members and union officials. The members, in response, formed an elected "advisory council" that has no real power within the union. They are trying to bring back the democratic nature many of the former locals enjoyed but its an uphill battle.

I disagree that he brings up any valid point at all. The guys a tyrant and is kicking people off his eboard for not agreeing with him right now. Amado just resigne. Etc, etc. Its hard to listen to democracy critiques from the right wing of the union.

Why do you consider Roselli to be on the right wing of the union? I know nothing about him other than the little links people have posted but his criticisms seem pretty sound. My only experience with the union so far is with the orientation provided to new hirees but the whole speech was very much about how the workers and bosses are partners, and so forth. If Roselli wants to lessen this tone I think that's a good thing. (Not that I think this would suddenly transform the union into some radical organ of class struggle.)

What am I missing?

Also, what exactly is the "mission" of the union?

The problem I have with the left in general on the subject of unions is that they read an article or listen to a speech and then simply believe the content of it or disbelieve the content of it based on their prior prejudices. I call Roselli the right wing of the union because, despite his rhetoric, he has reactionary practices that disenfranchise workers who disagree with him and he's deliberately fucking things up for workers in other parts of the country to gain market share and power for himself.

I don't "simply believe the content of it or disbelieve the content" of Roselli's claims "based on [my] prior prejudices." I think Roselli's claims sound nice. Whether or not they are simply a part of a power move, I have no idea, since I have no idea about the internal structure of the union nor the factional disputes within it. Hence my asking about it. I'd like to see evidence to substantiate your criticism of Roselli. (This is not a challenge, as if I doubted there were any, but I'd like to see it so I can make up my mind on this.)

thugarchist wrote:

The mission of any union should be to grow and improve the lives of its members. Simplistic answer to be sure but that should at least be the lowest common denominator.

If that's the mission of a union (I don't disagree with you), then it seems that the internal structure of the union and whether or not it focuses on partnership is very relevant to the mission of the union.

newyawka wrote:

could yiz stop quoting every other post when answering?
thanks, i've been wanting to say that for a while.

No.

mikus wrote:

newyawka wrote:

could yiz stop quoting every other post when answering?
thanks, i've been wanting to say that for a while.

No.

Agreed.

thugarchist wrote:

mikus wrote:

newyawka wrote:

could yiz stop quoting every other post when answering?
thanks, i've been wanting to say that for a while.

No.

Agreed.

Yep...

Actually. The sense I get is that Rosselli was all hunky dory with the mergers, trusteeships, purges etc... until it hit too close to home. When the international came in, took over bargaining, essentially ignored the local and the negotiating committee and cut a deal behind everyone's back Rosselli got pissed. But only because they went behind his back "this time".

He raises good points though. But these are things that reformers have been pushing for for years. Rosselli is not the best champion for their cause as it comes across as a power play and the pot calling the kettle black. But there are good solid unionists in the reform movement who deserve to have their voices heard. Don't ignore their legitimate grievances just because Mr. Rosselli is riding the reform bandwagon for his own purposes.

mikus wrote:

newyawka wrote:

could yiz stop quoting every other post when answering?
thanks, i've been wanting to say that for a while.

No.

Agreed.

In recent years, the union, which was once a favorite of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has struck an unlikely but fruitful alliance with the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, pouring millions of dollars into the Senate Republican war chest to help the party retain its control.

In turn, Mr. Bruno has defended 1199 against cuts sought by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat.

But recent campaign finance filings raise an intriguing question: Is the politically astute union now quietly hedging its bets?

In recent weeks, 1199 has been shoveling money into the Working Families Party, a labor-backed organization that has been mobilizing support for the Democratic candidate in a crucial State Senate special election in upstate New York on Tuesday. At the same time, the union has not contributed to the central campaign account maintained by Mr. Bruno’s Senate Republican operation in about six months.