Process Expected to Last Several Weeks; Decision Anticipated in November

Washington, DC-Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall, the outside hearing officer for the trusteeship hearing for United Healthcare Workers West (UHW-W), last night set a multi-week schedule for rendering his report on the proposed trusteeship of UHW-W. The hearing is slated for September 26 and 27.

The objective of the hearing process is to provide a report to the Service Employees International Union President who will in turn ask the International Executive Board for a final determination on whether a trusteeship is warranted at UHW-W. The process for the trusteeship hearing follows long established internal union practices and is designed to ensure a fair hearing that includes the opportunity for UHW-W leadership to address the allegations in the Notice:

·         On September 26-27, Secretary Marshall will hear evidence presented by the International President's representative on the allegations in the Pre-Trusteeship Notice as well as UHW-W's response.  These allegations include charges that the UHW-W local leaders "appear to have engaged in financial malpractice and a series of misrepresentations to their members and to the International Union involving expenditures of millions of dollars of union treasury monies."

·         Secretary Marshall will provide a 30-day period to allow both sides ample time to submit post-hearing briefs. During this period, members who did not have a chance to give their views will also be able to submit written statements for the record.

·         Following the close of the record, Secretary Marshall will review the record, including written evidence, testimony and briefs, and in accordance with the SEIU Constitution, will then make his recommendation to President Andy Stern.

President Stern has determined that he will ask the International Executive Board to make the final determination on whether to impose a trusteeship on UHW-W.

Based on the seriousness of the allegations, SEIU announced on August 25 the intention to hold a trusteeship hearing for UHW-W when an official Pre-Trusteeship Notice was issued to the local. While International Executive Board members usually serve as hearing officers in trusteeship matters, President Stern announced on September 8 that former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall would be serving as the hearing officer in the UHW-W trusteeship.