Around the union: November 3rd quick hits

Nov 03, 2009 - Why being in a union makes you more likely to have health insurance; H1N1 sick leave bill introduced, and news from SEIU locals in Michigan, California and New York. Read more...

Crash the Bankers' Party in Chicago

Oct 23, 2009 - If you could get all the architects of the banks/bailout scam together in one place, what would you say to them? Hurry up and decide, because they're all getting together in Chicago this weekend-- and we're headed there to meet them. The big bank execs are gathering in the Windy City for the American Bankers Association conference, for a 4 day celebration of wealth and opulence paid for by our tax dollars. Read more...

Wrong for NJ: New ad calls out Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie

Oct 22, 2009 - Today SEIU launched a new television ad ("What Do We Know?") calling attention to Republican Gubernatorial candidate and former Bush appointee Chris Christie's dismal record on women and families. The ad will air on local cable across southern New Jersey during the critical closing days of the Gubernatorial campaign. Read more...

"Can I see YOUR business card?" The Chamber gets punk'd

Oct 20, 2009 - Editors and fact checkers at several major news outlets were having a seriously bad case of "the Mondays" yesterday, as The Washington Post, CNBC, NY Times, Fox News and other major newspapers were duped by a Chamber of Commerce hoax perpetrated by the Yes Men at the National Press Club. Read more...

Photos from today's massive demonstration in Puerto Rico

Oct 15, 2009 - Enjoy the slideshow from today's strike by workers to protest Gov. Fortuño's layoffs--the largest demonstration in Puerto Rico's history. We'll keep the site and photostream updated as we get more from the ground in Puerto Rico. Updates on all things Puerto Rico on SEIU's Blog here. You can also follow SEIU on Twitter for updates. Read more...

Update: Filling Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat, Banks, Protests for Corporate Reform, Employee Free Choice

Sep 28, 2009 - This past week, while much of D.C. has been focused on the healthcare mark-up (us included), we've also been tracking a few other stories that we wanted to bring to your attention. First--the encouraging news that Massachusetts will return to full representation and the Democrats in Congress to a cloture-proof majority. Also, don't miss two stories on SEIU's calls for financial reform and a questionable award choice from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Read more...

New Hampshire State Retiree Alert: Don't Sign Away Your Rights!

Sep 09, 2009 - SEA has learned that at least some under-65 State retirees have been asked to sign "State Retirement Annuity Deduction Authorization" forms. These forms look like they would authorize the State to deduct an unspecified monthly amount from the retirees' pension benefit. Do not be fooled--if you -- or any State retiree you know -- receives this form, please do not sign your rights away. Read more...

Health Insurance Reform Bus rolls through Des Moines

Aug 31, 2009 - As the Organizing for America Health Insurance Reform Bus Tour rolled through Des Moines, they were greeted by a welcome sight: hundreds of Iowans with "Thank You" signs waiting to greet those driving the bus for health insurance reform. With around 500 people in attendance, including members of SEIU Local 199, our activists proved their dedication by showing up to support the cause. Read more...

Rep. Moran Brings Dr. Dean to Dispel Health Reform Myths

Aug 27, 2009 - Earlier this week, Congressman Jim Moran hosted a town hall at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA with special guest, Dr. Howard Dean. The contentious town hall was a big target but Change that Works Virginia and pro-health care activists outnumbered the opposition by 2,000 persons! Volunteers and Change that Works team members filled the pro-health care question box that Rep. Moran had designated but unfortunately 85% of the questions were from the anti-reform box. Read more...

Signing Scrubs to Support Reform

Aug 26, 2009 - This weekend, Iowa saw a different kind of town hall forum. At the Macbride hall, on the University of Iowa campus, dozens of signed scrubs were displayed with messages of support for health insurance reform--and painful stories of hardship because of our current health care system. Signed by health care providers from the various University of Iowa hospitals and clinics, these messages are from people on the front lines: people who deal with sick patients and their families every day. Patients who, under our current system, do not get better, but worse. Read more...

Activist Speaks About Change that Works on Wake Up AMerica Radio Show

Aug 26, 2009 - Activist Judy Stadtman Tucker took to the radio waves this week to talk about her work with Change that Works, Health Care for America Now, and Organizing for America for the cause of health insurance reform for the radio show 'Wake Up AMerica.' Read more...

Early Bird Gets the Worm, Early Protesters Get Reform

Aug 21, 2009 - Thanks to the amazing dedication of our activists, our last minute call for Senator Gregg's NH health care town hall last week was a rousing success. Although our activists had less than 24 hours notice, we still rallied strong and more than outnumbered the opposition of which...there was one? Read more...

Recap: Positive press for pro-reform activists at President Obama's visit to Montana

Aug 21, 2009 - Last week, thanks to the support of hundreds of activists, the cause of health care reform was advanced across Montana thanks to the passionate protests reform's advocates. Read more...

Be the first to know...Sign-up for mobile alerts from SEIU

Aug 17, 2009 - When our members require support at the workplace, the state capitol, or in the streets, we need immediate coordination--and being a part of our mobile alert list is a critical piece of our rapid response infrastructure. Text 'SEIU' to 787753 (PURPLE) right now, or sign-up online for SEIU's new mobile alerts program: http://action.seiu.org/seiumobile Read more...

Wall Street: Contracts for Me, Not for Thee

Aug 05, 2009 - Citigroup - recipient of $45 billion in bailout funds - apparently isn't feeling the economic crunch. In fact, it's considering paying a $100 million bonus to one of its employees, protesting that it can't tear up a contract. Tell that to California state employees. SEIU's Stephen Lerner compares the two vastly different situations in a segment on CNBC. Read more...

Health Care Supporters Take Over Tea Party in "Red Tennessee"

Jul 27, 2009 - With less than 24 hours notice, Change That Works Tennessee and its coalition partners staged a massive counter-demonstration at a Tea Party in front of Rep. Bart Gordon's office in Rutherford County. Our action, turned the Tea Party into a health care reform party. Read more...

Tell the Democrat-Gazette that Employee Free Choice is not Nazism

Jul 24, 2009 - This week, Arkansas' biggest paper, the Democrat-Gazette, made an outrageous and unbelievable statement, "unequivocally" equating the Employee Free Choice Act to....Nazis. The paper's statement is offensive on so many levels that it is difficult to know if it should even be dignified with a response. However, we believe such an outrageous claim demands a strong rebuttal. Read more...

Activists Highlight the High cost of Reform to Local News

Jul 20, 2009 - Here in Montana at Change that Works, we don't believe in giving up. That's why as the battle for health care reform draws down to the wire, we are fighting harder than ever to make sure our voices are heard. With 150 people in Montana losing coverage every week, and 22,920 people having lost coverage between 2008 and 2010, we cannot afford to stop fighting for the health care reform that Montana, and the country, so desperately needs. Read more...

California state workers will vote to strike; protest Governor Schwarzenegger

Jul 20, 2009 - As the governor and legislators continue to battle over the budget in California, leaders of SEIU Local 1000 have issued a strike authorization vote to the union's 95,000 members beginning today, July 20. SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week , declaring the union "will fight" his latest proposal to pile on a fourth furloughed work day for more than 230,000 state workers. Read more...

Mainers Stand Up To Opponents of Change

Jul 16, 2009 - The Maine Change That Works campaign, along with small businesses owners, senior citizens and other healthcare reform advocates joined together in Portland today to stand up to extreme, out-of-state front groups that advocate for the status quo. The group also asked Congress to stand up for working families by passing comprehensive healthcare reform that focuses on affordability. Read more...

Insulting: Ask Arkansas TV Stations to Pull this Ad off the Air

Jul 15, 2009 - It's one thing to have a substantive debate. It's another to spread baseless innuendo masquerading as "fact." A corporate group from Washington, DC is doing just that: airing a TV ad about the Employee Free Choice Act that's both completely false and insulting to the intelligence of Arkansans. You can do something about it. Ask the Arkansas TV stations running the ad to pull it off the air. A corporate group from Washington, DC is doing just that: airing a TV ad about the Employee Free Choice Act that's both completely false and insulting to the intelligence of Arkansans. Read more...

SEIU Demands Corporate Lobbyists Take Down Deceptive Ads On Employee Free Choice Act

Jul 10, 2009 - Today the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sent letters to television stations in Nebraska and Arkansas demanding that deceptive ads about the Employee Free Choice Act be taken down immediately. The ads are paid for by the Employee Freedom Action Committee (EFAC), the political action committee of anti-worker front group Center for Union Facts. Read more...

If the U.S. Chamber had their way, Louisianans would suffer

Jul 08, 2009 - When CEOs in Washington decide the agenda of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, they seem to forget all about real workers and business owners throughout America. For decades, they have fought legislation that would have a real impact on working families right here in Louisiana. With over 136,000 Louisianans out of work, now is the time to do everything we can to stand up to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - and stand up for working families. Read more...

Senator Al Franken's First Bill: Co-Sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act

Jul 08, 2009 - Within hours of being sworn in as Minnesota's 2nd senator, Senator Al Franken took action on his first bill: he co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act. Read more...

Nebraskans Greet Sen. Johanns...And His Staff Calls the Cops

Jul 03, 2009 - One day before celebrating the birth of our great nation, Nebraskans gathered at a scheduled healthcare roundtable to call on Senator Johanns to support an American solution to our healthcare crisis--only to have the police called on them. Read more...

Workers to Out-of-State Corporate Lobbyists: Stop Lying about My Job

Jul 02, 2009 - In response to new ads from out-of-state corporate lobbyists spreading lies about the Employee Free Choice Act, Nebraska Change that Works issued this statement from North Platte cafeteria worker Trish Meuhlenkamp. Read more...

At Victory Rally, Al Franken Shouts Out to Labor, Union Health Insurance

Jul 01, 2009 - At his victory rally today in Minneapolis, Senator-Elect (finally!) Al Franken spoke to an enthusiastic crowd about the race and what he's expecting in Washington. According to The Hill, Franken gave two important shout-outs in his speech: one to his "brothers and sisters in labor," and the other to his union's health insurance plan. Read more...

Farmers and Ranchers for Employee Free Choice

Jun 28, 2009 - A new rural coalition to support the Employee Free Choice Act launched this week: Farmers and Ranchers for Employee Free Choice. Read more...

Judge Orders State to Halt Wage Cut For California Home Care Workers

Jun 25, 2009 - HUGE news for home care workers and those they care for: A U.S. District Court judge issued an injunction Thursday afternoon ordering the state of California to halt a proposed $2 cut in wages for the state's 400,000 home care workers. The injunction has the effect of stopping pay cuts in all California counties that were planning on passing the state cut through to their home care workers. Read more...

The dust in Fresno has settled....now what?

Jun 25, 2009 - The Fresno members voted to keep SEIU UHW as their union in a record turnout for an election among home care workers. They made this choice after enduring an unprecedented two-year campaign of lies, distortions and false promises by the NUHW officials, who ran a management-style, anti-union campaign. Read more...

From Tennessee to D.C.

Jun 24, 2009 - This isn't just my first time in Washington D.C., it's my first time flying. At first, I thought flying would be scary, but it was actually pretty exciting. The takeoffs were a little rough, but after getting up there, I was actually looking down at the clouds! I not only flew on one plane, I flew on two planes. Read more...

Maine small business owner: U.S. Chamber's attacks on healthcare hurt small businesses

Jun 22, 2009 - In response to recent attacks from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Maine small business owner Lisa McSwain advocated for healthcare reform to help other small businesses struggling with growing healthcare costs. Read more...

Begging For Change

Jun 16, 2009 - The Maine Change That Works campaign launched "Begging for Change," a multimedia effort to highlight Maine families' urgent need for comprehensive health care reform that includes an affordable public health insurance option. Read more...

U.S. District Court: Tysons Food Worker Death Could Have Been Prevented

Jun 16, 2009 - Tyson Foods and the US Chamber of Commerce are actively fighting workplace safety measures that could have prevented the tragic death of a Tyson Foods worker, said Rev. Copley today. Read more...

President Obama Mentions Nashville Small Business Owners

Jun 16, 2009 - President Obama in his health care reform address to the American Medical Association in Chicago, mentioned Becky and Chris Link, two small business owners and Change that Works Tennessee activists Read more...

Colorado Small Businesses Endorse Employee Free Choice Act

Jun 11, 2009 - Today, 225 Colorado businesses released a "directory" featuring businesses that support the Employee Free Choice Act. In this economic crisis, we have a duty to support entrepreneurs and start-up companies in building sustainable, long-term successful businesses, rather than being forced to compete against irresponsible companies in an unwinnable, low-wage race to the bottom. Read more...

24 Hours of Twitter

Jun 09, 2009 - Thanks to the hard work of the Iowa Change that Works, our 24 hours of health care stories campaign on Twitter was a tremendous success. Read more...

Congressman Cooper Supports Public Option

Jun 08, 2009 - Tennessee Change that Works campaign joined together with President Obama's Organizing for America organization and Tennesseans from around the state to hold house meetings to discuss what we want health care reform to look like. Meeting in libraries, homes, community centers and coffee shops, Tennesseans from Nashville, Jackson, Hermitage, Hendersonville, Gallatin and Murfreesboro shared their stories about the broken health care system. Read more...

@ChuckGrassley: Who's Tweeting Whom?

Jun 08, 2009 - While telling the President he "has some nerve" as well as asserting "I'm no NAIL" might raise some eyebrows, we're not here to school Senator Grassley on the finer points of inter-netiquette. Rather, SEIU's Change that Works campaign is taking advantage of the Senator's connectivity to reach out directly and influence him where it counts: to reform our country's health care. Read more...

What Are You Going to Do About Health Care Reform? (Colorado)

Jun 08, 2009 - This weekend, inspired by Chris Dodd & the hardworking volunteers in Organizing for America, I set out to document what ideas people had for reforming health care in America. Read more...

24 Hours of Health Care Tweets to @ChuckGrassley

Jun 08, 2009 - This weekend, Sen. Grassley made news on Twitter yet again with a controversial pair of "tweets" he sent early Sunday morning, criticizing President Obama's call for lawmakers to begin delivering on health care reform while overseas honoring D-Day in France. Read more...

Gov. Dean Gets Fired Up in Delaware

Jun 08, 2009 - On May 29th, SEIU hosted an event with Gov. Howard Dean to discuss health care reform with people in Wilmington, Delaware. Watch a clip of Howard Dean reacting to a story from a local resident who was forced to file for divorce in order to afford cancer treatment. Read more...

Louisianans Answer the President's Call for Health Care Reform

Jun 08, 2009 - On Saturday, June 6, Change that Works organizers joined as dozens of activists from Organizing for America answered the President's call to meet and discuss health care reform. In house meetings across the state, Louisianans watched the President's health care reform message; shared their health care stories and found out how they could further participate in the health care reform discussion. Read more...

Richmond Small Business Owner for Health Care Reform

Jun 03, 2009 - Leonard Edloe has been running Edloe's Professional Pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia for 39 years--this African American owned business was opened by his father in 1947. As a small business owner, Mr. Edloe knows that when his customers thrive, his business thrives and that is part and parcel why he supports health care reform. Read more...

Small Business Owner: Chamber of Commerce Speaks for Me like Burger King Speaks for Cows

Jun 02, 2009 - Today, Maine small business owner Ben Wootten spoke out on the congressional lobbying organized by the Chamber of Commerce against the Employee Free Choice Act. Read more...

Senator Vitter: You Can Run (for Re-Election) but You Can't Hide (from Your Voting Record)

May 29, 2009 - In a recent fundraising email, Senator Vitter attacked SEIU for exposing his votes against working families. But it's nothing compared to the hardships he's caused to middle and low-income Louisianans with his votes as the Junior Senator of Louisiana. Helene O'Brien, President of SEIU Local 21LA issued the following statement in response to Senator Vitter's most recent fundraising email. Read more...

Little Rock Worker Wants Employee Free Choice

May 28, 2009 - Kanisha knows working families in Arkansas need Employee Free Choice, and she's working hard to make that happen. Join the Arkansas Change that Works campaign and help improve the quality of life of Arkansas workers. Read more...

Governor Schwarzenegger: Home Healthcare Is Not A Throw-Away!

May 28, 2009 - Today, SEIU home healthcare members closed their 48-hour vigil with a press conference on the steps of the California statehouse to protest drastic budget cuts which would drive home care workers into poverty and force seniors and people with disabilities into more restrictive and costly institutional settings Read more...

Southside Supports Rebuilding an Economy that Works for Everyone

May 28, 2009 - On Thursday, May 28, members of the Martinsville community joined together to show broad support for the Employee Free Choice Act and health care reform. Martinsville has been hit hard by the recession, with 20% unemployment and health care coverage increasingly unaffordable. Read more...

Maine Health Care Expert Speaks Out for Reform

May 26, 2009 - Having dedicated her life to helping better conditions for children's health, Susan Mackey Andrews is exactly the kind of expert we need to help solve our current health care crisis. And what she says is sobering. Read more...

Missoulian Endorses Free Choice to Rebuild Middle Class

May 20, 2009 - Sociology professor Daisy Rooks of the University of Montana put the Employee Free Choice Act in its proper perspective with her glowing endorsement atop the editorial page of the Missoulian. Read more...

Missoulian Recognizes Health Care Achievements

May 19, 2009 - The rising tide of public discontent over the health care crisis in Montana has grown into a full-fledged movement, complete with paid staffers and community organizers pushing for legislative reform. Read more...

Hampton Worker Writes, "Level the Playing Field"

May 19, 2009 - Billy Mason works at a manufacturing company in Hampton, Virginia. After 24 years of service, Mason saw a decrease in real wages; health and retirement benefits. Mason believed that the only recourse for him and his fellow workers was to organize. The company fought him and fellow organizers steadfastly with smear and fear campaign speeches by management before each shift. Read more...

Congratulations, Jim Suttle

May 13, 2009 - Congratulations, Jim Suttle! With news of Jim Suttle's election as the next mayor of Omaha, working families have just gained a powerful ally in our state's largest city. Suttle has been a tireless champion of middle class issues, and we simply couldn't be happier to see this hard fought victory. Read more...

Maine's Veterans Support Employee Free Choice

May 12, 2009 - Last week, a group of Maine veterans gathered together in Portland to voice their support for the Employee Free Choice Act--and it's not only Maine's veterans who support the Employee Free Choice Act. Read more...

Senator Gregg: Where are your New Hampshire Values?

Apr 08, 2009 - New Hampshire voters want change: we want health care reform, and we want it now. But Senator Judd Gregg continues to give us more the same. Senator Gregg has voted: NO to health care for 22,000 New Hampshire kids NO... Read more...

Senator Shaheen Meets with Local Health Care Advocates

Apr 08, 2009 - Laura Mick is more than a statistic--but tell that to the insurance companies. Born with a cyst and water around her brain, Laura was lucky enough to be treated and operated on by her doctor a few weeks after... Read more...

Congratulations, New Hampshire!

Apr 06, 2009 - Thursday night, we moved one step closer to fixing our broken health care system. Congress came together to pass President Obama's budget, a huge step toward reforming America's broken health care system. The budget lays out a responsible way... Read more...

Learn More About the Future of Health Care

Apr 01, 2009 - Read more...

New Hampshire Working Families Protest Big Banks

Mar 27, 2009 - On Thursday, working families across New Hampshire protested at a dozen Bank of America offices across the state as part of a national day of action. They were among the 10,000 people that turned out at big banks coast-to-coast... Read more...

Change That Works Call on Gregg to Fix America's Broken Health Care System

Mar 27, 2009 - On Tuesday and Wednesday, Change That Works activists protested outside of Senator Gregg's Manchester and Concord offices to let him know that it's time for Congress to step up and invest in fixing America's broken health care system. They... Read more...

Change That Works Activist Calls for Health Care Reform Now at White House Forum

Mar 27, 2009 - When Change That Works activist Sandra Burt spoke, it was from the heart. Read more...