All across this country, SEIU members, staff and leaders poured their hearts and souls into this election--pounding the pavement, making calls, and getting their co-workers and neighbors to the polls for pro-worker candidates.
We fought for good jobs and a fair economy and for a better life for our children. And that fight will continue no matter what the results end up being tonight.
Here are just a few stories from the thousands of SEIU members who took action this election:
I'm most proud of the fact that I got three new people involved - caregivers who have never been involved in politics before. I am concerned with the well-being of my community. People are going through difficult times. I am doing anything I can do to make sure our elected officials understand what we're going through. We have to turn this situation around."
- David Lindberg, Home Care Worker and SEIU Healthcare 775NW member
Everett, Washington
"Getting involved in politics is very important because if we don't get involved then we have no say. We need to elect people who will work for us."
- Brennan Mills, Certified Nursing Assistant and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania member, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
"Public employees are being blamed for what's wrong with California. This year I'm doing something about it."
- Johnny Clark, Los Angeles City General Services worker and SEIU Local 721 member, Los Angeles, California
"I think that the way we hold ourselves accountable to what we believe in is by electing people who care about our issues, like healthcare reform and safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Even volunteering one hour can make a difference."
- Stella Britcher, RN and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania member, Middletown, Pennsylvania
Kevita White-Leslie, a respiratory therapist and member of SEIU 1107 in Nevada, has been a registered Republican since she turned 18. But Kevita has spent the past four weeks knocking on doors for SEIU member-endorsed candidates. "Nevada needs jobs," said Kevita. "Harry Reid has a plan to get Nevadans back to work while Sharron Angle has said it's not her job to create jobs in Nevada."
"I'm talking to other SEIU 721 members about candidates who share my values and issues I care about. Like protecting retirement for working people, and making sure teachers, and city and county workers have the respect we deserve."
- Carolyn Consoli, Ventura County Public Health worker and SEIU 721 member, Ventura, California
"I'm a single mom with two teenage boys, and I work as an environmental analyst in the State Department of Environmental Protection's Wildlife Division. I signed-up because I want a governor who will fight for middle class and working families -- and to stop Connecticut's race to the bottom. I also wanted a governor who believes in public service -- and who won't treat state, municipal and school employees like political footballs to score cheap points."
- Dawn McCay, Environmental Analyst in the State Department of Environmental Protection's Wildlife Division and CSEA SEIU Local 2001 member.
Connecticut
Mary Ann Pryor, a member of SEIU Local 105 and a mental healthcare provider in Denver, Colorado has been doing her part to ensure Colorado's working families have a voice in Denver and in Washington. Over the past few weeks, Mary Ann has been canvassing through neighborhoods and calling voters to get out the vote, including efforts in State House District 27, where Sarah Gigliardi, a fellow SEIU member, is running for re-election. But Mary Ann is no stranger to political advocacy - she was one of ten SEIU member lobbyist to spend the spring of 2010 at SEIU headquarters lifting the voice of working families.
