Thanks to GOP Senators, 1 million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits tomorrow
Jun 24, 2010 - Republican Senators stood together today to block cloture on the jobs bill which would have advanced legislation to extend unemployment benefits through November. Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans will lose their benefits because of the GOP Senate. Once again, Republicans have decided that the hundreds of thousands of families suffering in this economic downturn don't matter. Read more...
Sodexo Workers And Students Lobby Congress For Fair Worker Rights And Stronger Health And Safety Laws
Jun 18, 2010 - This week, nearly 200 students and Sodexo workers kicked off the Summer of Change program and made their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Students and workers met with members of Congress, discussing legislation that would address criticisms about food contractor giant Sodexo's labor and food safety record. Read more...
Let's Create Jobs
Jun 09, 2010 - American workers are in a crisis. We're grappling with foreclosures, with layoffs and with worrying about what future we'll leave for our children. And now, the state and local services we rely on are being cut as states and cities cope with record budget crises. That's why the Senate must act by passing a strong jobs bill: the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. Read more...
Arkansas Senate Race: Lesson that Working Families Will Hold All Elected Officials Accountable
Jun 08, 2010 - Tonight, Sen. Lincoln won a narrow victory after a bruising runoff election where each and every day she was reminded that her success is only measured by doing right by working people and their families. Read more...
From New England to the Southwest, SEIU Members Continue Push for Immigration Reform
Jun 04, 2010 - SEIU members continued to demonstrate their support for comprehensive immigration reform this week, taking to the streets in Houston, Boston and Washington, DC to protest Arizona's anti-immigrant law SB1070 and urge Congress to take action on reform. Read more...
AR-SEN: Two Choices
Jun 02, 2010 - SEIU's previous ads challenged Blanche Lincoln's record on jobs, trade, health care, and her ties to special interests. Lincoln faces Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the June 8th election. Read more...
SEIU Members to President Obama and Congress: Focus on Comprehensive Solutions, Not Costly Enforcement-Only Policies
May 28, 2010 - At a time when state and local governments are facing budget crises, enforcement-only policies like SB 1070 force municipalities to divert money away from key public services. When members of Congress return home next week for the Memorial Day recess, they will be greeted by thousands of SEIU members rallying for comprehensive immigration reform. Read more...
Us or Wall Street: Who Wins This One?
May 27, 2010 - The good news: Congress is finally standing up to the big banks. First they passed a major Wall Street reform bill; now, they're preparing to vote on a jobs bill that closes a tax loophole for some of the richest Wall Street firms. The bad news: many Republicans want to kill this bill and some Democratic senators may help them do it. Read more...
SEIU Members Vote for Real Leadership Across the Country
May 20, 2010 - In a year when hardworking women and men all around this country have spent countless nights worrying about their jobs, the economy and their families' futures, voters in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Oregon made clear that they are looking for solutions. Read more...
Halter Forces Runoff: Proof Arkansas Families Want Real Leadership
May 19, 2010 - By forcing a run-off election against Senator Blanche Lincoln, Lt. Governor Bill Halter gave voice to the tens of thousands of Arkansas voters who are fed up with Senator Lincoln and special interests in Washington. Elected officials should take a lesson from this challenge that we're serious about accountability. Read more...
Who profits from a broken immigration system?
May 17, 2010 - We all know that Congress needs to get to work on immigration reform, but do you ever wonder who profits from today's broken, enforcement-heavy immigration policies? Private prison operators do. Read more...
New Report: Bank Lobbying As Bad As You Thought - And Worse
May 13, 2010 - According to a new report released on Tuesday, big banks and corporations have used close connections and hundreds of millions of dollars to blur the line where our government ends and their lobbying efforts begin. The report cites 243 government insiders turned lobbyists working for the industry. Of those, 202 used to work in Congress, and the rest served in the White House, Treasury Department or government agencies. Read more...
New TV Ad Holds Lincoln Accountable for Vote Against Health Care
May 13, 2010 - When Blanche Lincoln decided to side with big insurance companies with her vote against health insurance reform, she clearly didn't count on working people fighting back by supporting Bill Halter in the Democratic primary. Read more...
VIDEO: Cleaning Up K Street
May 11, 2010 - Right now, K Street is the big bank's HQ in the battle to kill Wall Street reform and keep us under their thumb. But next Monday, the 17th, we're going to call them out and demand that they stop lobbying for the bank CEOs and against taxpayers. Read more...
Online Ads Against Roy Blunt: "One hand washes the other."
Apr 29, 2010 - One hand washes the other. That's about what a top Republican Senator told a meeting of America's leading bankers last month, saying the best way to protect bank's profits and business as usual was to elect more Republican Senators--and then personally asked them for $10,000 apiece to elect Roy Blunt. SEIU today released online ads taking aim at the cozy relationship between Wall Street bankers and Missouri Senate hopeful Roy Blunt. Read more...
How many more workers will die because of lack of workplace safety?
Apr 29, 2010 - If you want to put a human face on the struggle families have with transparency and involvement in OSHA investigations, you should watch Tonya Ford's testimony--it is very powerful stuff. Tonya's uncle Uncle Robert Fitch ("Uncle Bobby") gave 32 years of his life to ADM, the company he was working for when a tragic lack of workplace safety led to his passing at the age of 51 years old. Read more...
Senate Republicans Have a Reality Problem
Apr 29, 2010 - This is more than just an image problem for the GOP, it's a reality problem. The reality is, Republicans in Congress have been carrying the water for Wall Street every step of the way. Now that we finally have a Wall Street reform bill before Senators, we get to see each and every Senator's true colors; are they with us or Wall Street? Read more...
Today is Workers Memorial Day
Apr 28, 2010 - Every day, sixteen workers are killed in the U.S. because of reckless negligence on the part of their employers--a sad fact that is especially present in our thoughts this April 28th. This is because today marks Workers Memorial Day, the national day to honor the hundreds of thousands of workers killed and injured on the job every year. Read more...
President Obama: "I am a pro-union guy."
Apr 28, 2010 - President Obama held a town hall meeting in Iowa yesterday, during which he answered questions from audience members. He also reminded the public of his perspective and support for labor unions, saying "I've said this before publicly and I'll say it again, I make no apologies for it. I am a pro-union guy." Read more...
Dodge and Delay: Goldman Execs Testify on Capitol Hill
Apr 27, 2010 - Lloyd Blankfein and other top Goldman Sachs executives testified in front of the Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee about their role in creating the financial crisis. You can read a transcript of our live blog from the hearing. Read more...
Submit Your Questions for Lloyd Blankfein
Apr 26, 2010 - What questions would you like to see Lloyd Blankfein answer? You can get them to us by texting 'GOLDMAN' and then your question, to 787753. We'll submit them to Senator Levin's office and run them live on our website during tomorrow's hearing. Read more...
Global Media Update: Around the World, Sodexo Workers' Voices Are Being Heard
Apr 25, 2010 - As Sodexo workers in the United States speak up against unlawful intimidation, poverty wages, and a lack of access to affordable health care, their voices are being heard around the world. The series of national actions by Sodexo workers have received coverage in some of the most prominent publications in France, including Le Monde, sometimes referred to as the "French newspaper of record." Read more...
RIGHT NOW: The Lincoln/Halter Debate
Apr 23, 2010 - We live-blogged the Lincoln/Halter showdown, as things begin at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Friday night at 8 pm (EST). Read more...
Gov. Brewer Turns Her Back on Movement Against Draconian Arizona Anti-Immigration Law
Apr 23, 2010 - With the signing of SB 1070, draconian legislation that would force police officers to arrest anyone they "suspect" is an illegal immigrant, AZ Gov. Jan Brewer turns her back on the momentum and outrage that has built around the country in opposition to the bill. Send a message to Governor Brewer now. Read more...
Five Things to Watch For in Tonight's Lincoln/Halter Debate
Apr 23, 2010 - Ever since Blanche Lincoln realized she wasn't going to cruise to re-election, she's been caught saying some pretty unusual things -- and taking positions that go against her own record. Tonight, will Lincoln continue attacking the hardworking men and women of Arkansas as "outside" interests or worse? Tune in to SEIU.org tonight (8 pm EST, 7 pm CST) during the debate, where we'll be live-blogging the showdown. Read more...
The Tipping Point: Join Us This Week
Apr 21, 2010 - Next week, we'll be at big bank shareholder meetings and offices across the country. Thousands of taxpayers will be calling on the banks to stop funding their billion dollar bonuses at our expense. RSVP for an event near you. Read more...
Immigration policy a GOP weak spot
Apr 21, 2010 - Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Obama called MA Sen. Scott Brown to give him "a heads-up that immigration was coming down the pike and he should give it some serious thought." Sen. Brown should do this--and so should the Republican party as a whole, as SEIU Exec. Vice President Eliseo Medina explains in this op-ed for Politico.com... Read more...
Stop "These F@#king Guys."
Apr 20, 2010 - Goldman Sachs charged with fraud. Five billion dollars in NEW bonuses and compensation set aside for their top brass. Senator Mitch McConnell and the GOP caucus trying to block legislation that would rein in the very behavior at the center of the fraud charges. I don't even know where to begin. So, I turn instead to Jon Stewart... Read more...
When Congress returns, Republicans may block unemployment...AGAIN
Apr 09, 2010 - The Senate is set for a cloture vote on a bill to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA health benefits through May 5th--but it's unclear whether Democrats will be able to break through a GOP filibuster to get the legislation passed. This is just the latest in a string of GOP demonstrations of refusal to cooperate on extending needed benefits to out-of-work Americans. Read more...
West Virginia Mine Disaster Calls Attention to Need for Increased Worker Safety on the Job
Apr 07, 2010 - Lack of worker safety was a huge problem in this country long before 25 West Virginia mine workers died in a tragic mine explosion on Monday. American workers should not have to face unacceptable hazards at work, and we must make fight toward increasing protections to keep them safe on the job. To that end, SEIU is joining with the Obama Administration and Congressional leaders in calling for the passage of the Protecting America's Workers Act (PAWA). Read more...
What We Did
Apr 06, 2010 - For more than 14 months, SEIU's online activists took action every day for health reform. We wanted to revisit the series of small victories that led up to a big win for America--because there's no doubt that health care reform represents the first major piece of legislation passed through a groundswell of online activism. Read more...
Industry Violence Bill Should Include ALL Healthcare Workers
Mar 31, 2010 - This morning, 1199SEIU delivered a letter to Massachusetts lawmakers advocating for the expansion of pending legislation regarding assault and battery against healthcare workers. According to BLS, workers in the healthcare industry suffer violent attacks and other incidents of workplace violence at almost twice the rate of all other private sector workers. Read more...
Senate Passes Reconciliation Package
Mar 25, 2010 - We just cleared another major hurdle in the almost-completed journey toward passing comprehensive health insurance reform. The U.S. Senate just passed the reconciliation package - 56 to 43 - after rejecting 24 hours worth of occasionally absurd Republican amendments to the bill. Read more...
Senator Mikulski: What Health Care Reform Will Do For Women
Mar 25, 2010 - Senator Mikulski took to the Senate floor this morning to deliver a passionate speech about her work to end the punitive practices of insurance companies towards women. "For too long, in too many ways, they treated simply being a woman as a pre-existing condition." Read more...
Open Letter to U.S. Senate from 180 Organizations - Vote for Health Care
Mar 24, 2010 - Today, SEIU joined hundreds of groups and organizations across the country in signing onto an open letter to the U.S. Senate. The message was simple: a "no" on amendments is a "yes" on health care reform. Read more...
Six Districts, Six Ad Campaigns
Mar 24, 2010 - We just launched a series of television ads in six congressional districts this morning, in support of Representatives in Congress who stood up to insurance companies and other special interests. The ads will start today in the districts of Reps. Periello (VA-05), Titus (NV-03), Markey (CO-XX), Boccieri (OH-16), Dahlkemper (PA-03), and Pomeroy (ND-AL). Read more...
Health Care Bill Signing: A View From the Rope Line
Mar 23, 2010 - SEIU President Andy Stern spoke to President Obama briefly after he signed the health care bill into law at the White House today. He wanted to quickly share what the President said about SEIU members. Watch his video message here. Read more...
VIDEO: Landmark Health Care Bill Signed Into Law
Mar 23, 2010 - At 11:15 a.m. today at the White House, President Obama signed into law the historic health care reform legislation that passed the House of Representatives on Sunday night. "Today, after almost a century of trying, today, after over a year of debate, today, after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America," said Obama. Watch video of the signing and check out a table outlining when reforms will be implemented here. Read more...
The Final Push for Health Care: Tracking Votes and Taking Names
Mar 17, 2010 - There's a ton of activity this week around health care reform, and more news is breaking every hour. Today, alone, we learned the Rep. Dennis Kucinich will now vote "YES" on the forthcoming House health care bill, that Republicans are now launching an effort to repeal the bill and that only 3% of progressives are against passing the Senate health bill. In addition, there's a new tool for tracking health care votes and just-released district-by-district analysis of the impact of health care legislation. Read more...
VIDEO: Explaining Reconciliation
Mar 17, 2010 - Many Republicans have been trying to define "reconciliation" as a radical alternative to the normal legislative procedure. This isn't true, and in fact, there have been 22 reconciliation bills between 1981 and 2009--14 of which were done by a Republican-controlled Congress. Watch this video explaining the reconciliation process. Read more...
SEIU Battleground Poll: What are Democrats' and Independents' Concerns Regarding Congress?
Mar 16, 2010 - On behalf of SEIU, the Benenson Strategy Group conducted 1,218 interviews with registered Democrats and Independents in CO, NH and NV in February. Three big takeaways from the poll and memo: 1. No one party is without blame 2. Voters need and demand change and 3. Dems control their own future. View more polling result insights here. Read more...
New Ads - Watch: It's Happening Everywhere...
Mar 16, 2010 - It's happening everywhere. Across America, we've seen our insurance premium rates go up 3x as fast as wages--crushing small businesses and working families. SEIU has launched a new barrage of TV ads in partnership with Health Care For America Now (HCAN). The ads urge constituents to call their congressman and push for a "yes" vote. They're running in the districts of Reps. Jason Altmire (PA), Jim Costa (CA), Brad Ellsworth (IN), Betsy Markey (CO) and Earl Pomeroy (ND). View them here. Read more...
U.S. Chamber & GOP Don't Want Living Wage for Federal Contract Workers
Mar 02, 2010 - The New York Times reported recently that nearly one in four U.S. workers is employed by companies that have contracts with the federal government. Now the White House wants to make sure those employers obey the law by changing how companies can win lucrative government contracts. Read more...
GOP Filibuster Kings "Taking A Stand" on Backs of Unemployed Americans
Mar 01, 2010 - Two Republican Senators have decided extending benefits programs for more than 1.1 million Americans is less important than getting their pet projects enacted. As a direct result of Sen. Bunning and Sen. Kyl "taking a stand" on the backs of the unemployed, the Senate recessed for the weekend without taking action to reauthorize UI and COBRA health benefits created by the Recovery Act. Read more...
How Women Are Hurt More By Rate Hikes
Feb 26, 2010 - Yesterday at the White House health care summit, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) raised women's health issues in the context of reform. Specifically, she called attention to insurance companies' practices of denying coverage to women based on pre-existing conditions, calling the practice "cruel," "capricious" and "done only to enhance the bottom line." Rep. Slaughter's comments are particularly timely in light of the latest insurance premium hikes by Anthem Blue Cross. Read more...
SEIU's Andy Stern 'Honored' to Serve on Obama's National Debt Commission
Feb 26, 2010 - Today, SEIU President Andy Stern was chosen by President Obama as one of his six choices to serve on a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to reduce the national debt. Stern put out a statement today on his appointment to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility. Read more...
VIDEO: Senators, Activists Speak Out On Insurance Industry Abuses following Melanie's March
Feb 25, 2010 - It's unlikely that a Senate office building has ever been packed with such an energetic, passionate crowd. That was the scene yesterday at the Dirksen Office Building with key lawmakers Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who joined Melanie's March walkers, union members and health care activists to discuss the need for health reform and hear several participants' personal insurance industry horror stories. Read more...
U.S. Senator Bennet Earns Support of Colorado Working Families
Feb 24, 2010 - Today, healthcare workers, janitors, security officers, property service workers the other hardworking members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105, united in endorsing Senator Michael Bennet for the U.S. Senate. Read more...
House Financial Services Committee Hearing: Is Additional Stimulus Needed?
Feb 23, 2010 - "The question being asked here today is should additional stimulus be adopted by the Congress, given the state of the economy," said Barney Frank today at the opening of the House Financial Services Committee hearing. Then he continued, saying, "The relevant question is, what would things have been like in its absence?" Much more to come in today's 2:00 p.m. hearing on the prospects for employment growth and the need for additional economic stimulus, including testimony from SEIU's Andy Stern. Read more...
Doing Nothing Is Not An Option
Feb 22, 2010 - With this Thursday's White House health reform summit, Congress has an opportunity to break the gridlock that has denied American families the health insurance reform they so desperately need. Today, several advocacy organizations, including SEIU, sent a joint letter to Senate and House leaders this morning encouraging them to make this healthcare summit really count--by enacting comprehensive health reform legislation. Read more...
VIDEO: Sen. Sherrod Brown stands up for Hugo Boss workers on Senate floor
Feb 19, 2010 - The 350+ Hugo Boss factory workers from Cleveland are not taking the corporation's attempts to close their factory permanently and move their jobs overseas lying down. And now they've got Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown on the front lines with them, fighting to keep the Hugo Boss factory open and keep alive a tradition of suit manufacturing in Cleveland that goes back to the 1840's. Read more...
Is Bipartisanship a Means or an End?
Feb 19, 2010 - On Huffington Post today, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger discusses what working people really want from our elected lawmakers--and what (or who) is standing in the way. Read more...
While Congress Talked, Americans Grappled with a Broken System
Feb 10, 2010 - In the past year, while Congress has debated health insurance reform, millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and with it, their employer-provided health insurance. Millions more have fallen ill and fought with insurance companies over treatments, reimbursements and so-called pre-existing conditions. Read more...
Experts Highlight How Latino Voters Will Influence 2010 Elections
Feb 08, 2010 - The Latino vote has grown exponentially since 2000, changing the political landscape in more than a dozen states across the country, and is poised to be pivotal yet again in the 2010 cycle. Read more...
Fact Check on Rep. John Kline's Opening Statement at Today's House Education and Labor Committee Hearing with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
Feb 03, 2010 - During his opening statement at today's House Education and Labor Committee Hearing with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) underscored how out of touch he is with the needs of working families in his Minnesota district and across the country. "We certainly expected his opening statement to be long on anti-worker rhetoric, but we were shocked on how wrong he was on the facts," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. Read our fact check here. Read more...
Lloyd Blankfein "Thumbs His Nose" at Us
Feb 01, 2010 - In the wake of last week's report that banks were using loopholes and tricks to skirt the rules on executive compensation, we asked taxpayers to call on the FCIC to investigate the bankers' pay. In less than 24 hours, more than 5,000 people had submitted requests to the Commission. Now, it appears, our call for an investigation couldn't come a moment too soon. Read more...
Eliseo Medina: Can't Fix Economy Without Fixing Immigration System
Jan 29, 2010 - In today's Huffington Post, SEIU Executive VP Eliseo Medina called for bold action to pass comprehensive immigration reform. "Simply put: we can't build a strong economy on top of a broken immigration system. We cannot restore fairness to U.S. workers or build stability in the labor market until we eliminate today's underground economy of undocumented workers..." Read more...
Celebrate Lilly Ledbetter by keeping up the fight against wage disparity
Jan 29, 2010 - History was made when President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law to strengthen the rights of women and all workers to pursue justice for wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability. While this anniversary marks a victory for pay equity, there is still much work to be done. Read more...
Whipping Votes and Making Gains in Congress
Jan 29, 2010 - This week, SEIU launched a click-to-call campaign in an effort to connect our online community with members of Congress, in favor of passing comprehensive reform. After thousands of conversations with House and Senate offices, we're making some gains--and members of Congress are beginning to show some political courage. Read more...
Rule #1 on Wall Street: There Are No Rules
Jan 29, 2010 - As President Obama joins taxpayers in bearing down on the big banks' reckless behavior, the bankers are striking back - already hard at work on ways to sidestep any new rules that might be put in their way. Bloomberg reports that the the leaders of some of the world's biggest banks "met during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to plot how to reassert their influence with regulators and governments." Instead of figuring out ways to reform their banks, they're figuring out ways to prevent reform from happening. Read more...
Tell the Bankers: We Want the Straight Story
Jan 28, 2010 - Apparently $150 billion just isn't enough for Wall Street bankers. Today, WSJ is reporting that big banks are breaking their own rules, easing pay restrictions and offering "forgivable loans" to bankers who need a little extra cash. This news comes just two weeks from when the bank CEOs sat on Capitol Hill and said - under oath - that they had placed new, tough restrictions on executive compensation. Read more...
State of the Union: Obama Calls For Change Working Families Are Still Waiting For
Jan 27, 2010 - Following the conclusion of President Obama's State of the Union address, SEIU's Anna Burger issued this statement: One year into his presidency, President Obama has acted quickly to move us out of the Dark Ages of the Bush administration. But today, we need even bolder solutions to address the solutions that America's working families need. President Obama should heed the call he gave each of us long ago: We are the ones we've been waiting for. Read more...
VIDEO: Health Care Advocates Rally Against U.S. Chamber & Corporate Interests
Jan 27, 2010 - Around 250 health care supporters rallied on the steps of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's headquarters in Washington, DC today to send a clear message to Congress: if we allow corporate lobbyists to win, the people will lose. Watch what unfolded on the steps of the U.S. Chamber across from the White House in today's protest... Read more...
Congress: Stop Letting Insurance Companies Act as Death Panels
Jan 26, 2010 - Stacie Ritter attended today's march and rally outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on behalf of her "special interests" -- her twin daughters, both of whom are cancer survivors. "We cannot make our children pre-existing conditions," she said, speaking to the crowd of 200+ health care advocates gathered before her today. Read more...
DC Rally at Noon: Mobilization against U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Jan 26, 2010 - In the wake of the election in Massachusetts, congressional leaders are weighing how to fulfill their commitment to fix our broken health care system. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent millions -- and used millions from the nation's biggest health insurers -- to kill health care reform. But health care reform is not all the only issue Chamber lobbied against in 2009. Read more...
VIDEO: The Basics of Job Creation
Jan 22, 2010 - The Center for American Progress has proposed a set of three main policy steps they believe Congress and Obama could take to contribute substantially to putting our nation's labor market back on track. To accompany their proposals, CAP has created this informative video explaining why unemployment in the U.S. is still so high--and how a more aggressive jobs plan (like SEIU's) could be enacted to tunnel us out of the recession. Read more...
SCOTUS Citizens United Ruling = The Drowning of American Politics in Corporate Dollars
Jan 22, 2010 - The First Amendment was never intended to protect corporations...until now? Thanks to SCOTUS's Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission ruling yesterday, if you are a 'corporate person' (aka a CEO or corporate official), you are now free to hit the corporate ATM and spend whatever amount of your shareholders' money it takes to elect the candidates of your choice. Read more...
Massachusetts Voters' Message to Washington: It's Time for Action
Jan 19, 2010 - The reason Ted Kennedy's seat is no longer controlled by a Democrat is clear: Washington's inability to deliver the change voters demanded in November 2008. Make no mistake, political paralysis resulted in electoral failure. During the past year, Republicans refused to do anything but stand in the way of change and Democratic Senators took too long to do too little. Read more...
GOTV Tool: Be all that you can be for Martha Coakley
Jan 19, 2010 - I don't need to remind you how important it is to vote for Martha Coakley today. But just voting is not enough. Too much is on the line to "just vote." We need you MA voters to get at least 10 people to join you. Use our tool to Get Out the Vote to help all your friends and family in MA find their polling place. Read more...
CHART: Coakley vs. Brown on Working Family Issues
Jan 19, 2010 - As a union, it's our job to inform and represent our members on issues that affect working people. We've identified Martha Coakley and Scott Brown's positions on four key issues that don't seem to get a lot coverage in the media, but which we believe all SEIU members and working people in Massachusetts should know. Check out our comparison chart here. Read more...
SEIU Statement on Scott Brown's Failure to Provide Health Coverage for Campaign Staff
Jan 16, 2010 - SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger released the following statement after news reports on Talking Points Memo and the Boston Globe that Republican candidate Scott Brown fails to provide health insurance for his own campaign staff. Read more...
SEIU Commends White House for Granting TPS for Haitians Living in the U.S.
Jan 15, 2010 - Earlier today, SEIU's New Media and Immigration teams launched an online action calling on DHS and the Administration to grant TPS to Haitians living in the U.S. This evening, the Obama administration granted TPS to Haitian nationals who were in the U.S. at the time of Tuesday's earthquake--giving them permission to over-stay their visa for the next 18 months. As the U.S. Haitian community watches with shock and horror at the jarring pictures of their homeland tonight, this critical moral victory offers a much needed sigh of relief. Read more...
The Real Story on the Excise Tax Framework
Jan 15, 2010 - For the past 24 hours, the beltway press has been weaving together scraps of quotes and hearsay for stories about the excise tax. It resulted in a lot of rumors - some true, some not - but most of which was decidedly premature. That was until yesterday afternoon, when labor leaders hosted a call with reporters describing exactly what framework had emerged from their talks with the White House. Because of Labor's commitment to improving this bill, America's middle class will get a fairer shake from insurers, and will no longer be at risk of losing dental or vision coverage due to a tax on benefits. To be clear, this applies to everyone. Not just union members. Read more...
VIDEO: Health Care Tales from the Trenches
Jan 15, 2010 - At the January 13 Health Care Affordability Summit on Capitol Hill, panel speakers including Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and SEIU Int'l Executive VP Mary Kay Henry called for improving subsidies for low- and moderate-income families in the final reform bill. SEIU members who were interviewed during the day of national action spoke about why they and their families need affordable, comprehensive coverage as a part of reform. Their personal accounts are truly moving--watch here. Read more...
Anna Burger: We Need Bold Action on Jobs
Jan 14, 2010 - The hardworking 2.2 million members of SEIU and their families know that the Recovery Act worked, and is working, to create and save jobs across the country. But while the recovery program has succeeded in stabilizing our economy, we are a long way from the kind of sustained recovery we need to replace the 8.1 million jobs we've lost since the recession began. If we are going to come out of this crisis stronger and better prepared for the challenges of a 21st century economy, we need an intensive, 24/7 focus on job creation until we emerge from the deep hole left by the previous Administration. Read more...
SEIU Members Expose the Real Scott Brown
Jan 13, 2010 - Scott Brown supported both George Bush and his tax cuts for the rich, he opposes a woman's right to choose, he denies the facts on global warming, and he enjoys the support of extremist Tea Party backers. Today, SEIU took to the airwaves with a new statewide ad to educate Bay State voters about how out of step Scott Brown is with the Commonwealth's values. Read more...
SEIU Members Expose the Real Scott Brown
Jan 13, 2010 - Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) took to the airwaves to educate Bay State voters about how out of step Scott Brown is with the Commonwealth's values. Read more...
A Burgeoning Consensus on Fixing Affordability
Jan 07, 2010 - Today, SEIU and more than 750 national and state-based organizations sent an open letter to the White House and Congress urging a strengthening and expansion of affordability and coverage provisions in the final health care bill. What are these groups asking for? What are these groups asking for? It's simple: The two bills should be combined. Read more...
Top 10 SEIU Blog Stories of 2009
Dec 30, 2009 - A little over a year after its launch, more than 1,400 posts have appeared on the SEIU Blog. As the end of 2009 drew closer in sight, we decided to look through our records to find the most popular stories on the blog this year. The list of 'top 10' may surprise you--find out the top-read SEIU Blog posts of 2009 here. Read more...
The Faces of Health Reform: Employer-Provided Insurance Falls Short in Senate Bill
Dec 29, 2009 - Illinois food service worker Cathy Gaul knows how quickly workers can go from having insurance to joining the ranks of 47 million Americans who live without it. As an employee of food service conglomerate Sodexo, Cathy is paid just $8.50 an hour and she can't afford the cost of coverage through her employer. Should Cathy's husband lose his job again, would Cathy and he have access to affordable coverage under the healthcare bills being debated in Congress? Read more...
Wake up call for unorganized workers & the labor movement
Dec 28, 2009 - Today in an interview on The Real News Network, journalist Phil Dine had a message for unorganized workers, on why all working Americans should be in a labor union. Interviewer Paul Jay and Dine also discussed unions needing to be able to say to the Democratic party, "you're either with us...or you're with the Chamber of Commerce." Read more...
Senate Passes Health Care Bill, 60-39
Dec 24, 2009 - The Senate just passed their health care bill on a 60-39 party line vote. With just one exception, Republican members of Congress uniformly voted "no" on every single procedural and general vote on health insurance reform since July. This was a coordinated effort by the GOP to kill this legislation for political gain, and guess what? They failed. Read more...
The Faces of Health Reform: How Reform Will Impact SEIU Members
Dec 23, 2009 - At both bargaining tables and kitchen tables across the nation, SEIU members have faced increasingly tough decisions about their health care--often sacrificing wage increases for benefits, or going without health insurance entirely. In recent months, members have shared their personal stories with us about their struggles with accessing affordable, stable, quality health insurance. Read more...
Update: Senate bill moves forward
Dec 19, 2009 - On Saturday morning, Sen. Ben Nelson announced at a press conference that he plans to vote for cloture on the current Senate health care bill. His announcement secured Sen. Harry Reid's long sought after 60th vote to end a Republican filibuster against health insurance reform. Read more...
Calling on Congress: No More Empty Chairs at Christmas
Dec 18, 2009 - SEIU Healthcare PA member Georgeanne Koehler delivered close to 1,000 holiday healthcare postcards urging the Senate's swift passage of healthcare reform to members of Congress yesterday. The holiday cards were collected sent from people across the state, asking Congress to pass health care reform before the holidays. Read more...
Shocker: Super, Super Rich Want to Stay That Way
Dec 17, 2009 - Members of United for A Fair Economy are calling on the Senate to act to extend the current estate tax before the holiday recess. If the Senate does not act to either pass a one-year extension or a permanent estate tax before January 1, 2010, it will mean that the folks who inherit huge fortunes -- $3.5 million and above -- no longer have to pay taxes on their gains. Read more...
Update: Harkin Suggests He May Reintroduce Cloture Reform
Dec 14, 2009 - In 1995, Sen. Joe Lieberman co-sponsored legislation with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) to abolish the filibuster. Today, nearly 10,000 people have signed the petition to urge Sen. Lieberman to heed the words of his former Senate self, and quit threatening to filibuster health insurance reform. Sen. Tom Harkin told reporters this weekend he's considering re-introducing the same legislation he co-sponsored with Lieberman in 1995--creating a bill that would reform the cloture vote. Read more...
U.S. Chamber Armed with Hyperbole, Bad Metaphors to Defeat Employee Free Choice Act
Dec 14, 2009 - Fresh off their quixotic campaigns to kill health care reform, climate change legislation, consumer financial protection, and pretty much anything else that their small group of backers dislike, the U.S. Chamber will renew its pledge to defeat labor law reform. Read more...
Congress tightens Wall Streets' financial belt
Dec 14, 2009 - The House voted to approve the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR. 4173) by a measure of 223 to 202 on Friday. SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger welcomed the passage of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 in the House as an "important milestone in reversing the decades-long strangle hold Wall Street and big banks have had over our economy." Read more...
Home care worker is Sen. Dodd's 'designated hitter' on long term care
Dec 11, 2009 - Virginia home care aid Athena Jones spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference today held by Democratic Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Robert Casey (D-Pa) and Paul Kirk (D-Mass) to discuss the importance of including long term care provisions in health care reform. Read more...
The "Tweak" that Gives You a Twitch
Dec 11, 2009 - This morning, some seriously disturbing news came out about the Senate health care bill. The AP reports: A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer, prompting a rebuke from patient advocates. Read more...
Insurers Hire Mafia to Spam Congress
Dec 10, 2009 - It was bad enough when insurers were peddling misinformation and distortions to convince people to support a filibuster, but now they've gone to new lows: paying gamers virtual currency for their emails to Congress. The groups that make up the "Get Health Reform Right" campaign are now paying to have their campaign run on popular Facebook applications Mafia Wars and FarmVille. Read more...
U.S. Chamber & GOP leaders hold 11th hour press conference to scrap healthcare bill
Dec 09, 2009 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and GOP leaders are using every trick in the book to kill healthcare reform. Politico reports that today, the Chamber and 70 business leaders from across the country joined Republican leaders in a press conference to call on Congress to scrap their current healthcare bill and start over. Read more...
Joe vs. the American People
Dec 09, 2009 - In the past few weeks, Sen. Joe Lieberman has stood between a nation and its future. Despite support by a majority in the Senate, Sen. Lieberman used his power as a single U.S. Senator to delay, and ultimately decide, a critical piece of legislation - health insurance reform. Watch our new video and sign the petition here. Read more...
Goldman Sachs Says You and I are Wrong. (We're Not)
Dec 09, 2009 - Goldman Sachs has a response on their website to the calls we made to Lloyd Blankfein about the Stella D'Oro factory closing in the Bronx. Shockingly, they say you and I have it all wrong. They even posted a helpful list of facts to bolster their case. Let's review those facts one-by-one... Read more...
Coakley wins Democratic nomination for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat
Dec 09, 2009 - Last night, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley took one giant step closer to becoming the state's first woman senator. She won the Democratic nomination in the campaign to replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy by a large margin. Read more...
A Health Care Busting Memo
Dec 03, 2009 - Ask any member of a union if they're familiar with with union-busting tactics by employers, and you'll not only get an affirmative answer, you'll also understand why their union is so important to them. Read more...
Big business's skewed view on paid sick leave
Nov 25, 2009 - As Congress deliberates over a bill to expand paid sick leave as Americans suffer through a pandemic of the H1N1 virus, big business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce appear to be completely in denial over the importance of the issue. Tell THAT to the 57 million working Americans who currently have no paid sick days at all. Read more...
60,000+ Activists from 45 States join call to action for immigration reform w/ Rep. Luis Gutierrez
Nov 19, 2009 - On Wednesday, the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign and an enormous coalition of faith, law enforcement, labor, civil rights, and immigrant advocacy groups brought tens of thousands of activists together for an immigration call to action with Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Raul Grijalva, and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. Read more...
U.S. Senators, meet Loretta Johnson
Nov 19, 2009 - There was only one speaker at Sen. Harry Reid's press conference today who was NOT a member of the U.S. Senate. Her name? Loretta Johnson, a home health care worker & SEIU member who lost her own coverage when her husband became ill and she was forced to quit her job. Read more...
Reform: What's in the Senate Health Care Bill
Nov 19, 2009 - There's a lot of talk today about what the Senate health care bill will do in the immediate future--and you may be wondering how this bill effect your healthcare. Check out a list of reforms that go into affect immediately after the bill becomes law. Read more...
Joe Lieberman will hate this
Nov 18, 2009 - Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) have each been targeted by the opposition to join a Republican filibuster. If that happens, health insurance reform will not move forward--but you can have an impact if you adopt a health care "swing state" as your own. Read more...
Local Faith Community Gathers Outside Sen. Lieberman's Connecticut Home
Nov 16, 2009 - On Sunday, members of the Connecticut faith community staged a candelight vigil outside Sen. Joe Lieberman's home in Connecticut. The Stamford Advocate reported, clergy from several religious dominations prayed in three languages outside the fourth-term senator's home, surrounded by a crowd the Fire Marshal's Office estimated to number nearly 500. Read more...
Visual Recap: DC Goldman Sachs Protest
Nov 16, 2009 - One of our favorite images from today's protest was a fabulous visual representation of Goldman Sachs, depicted as writer Matt Taibbi so accurately described the financial giant in Rolling Stone: "The world's most powerful investment bank is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money." More photos here. Read more...
Andy Stern: Time to Put Country Over Company
Nov 16, 2009 - Goldman Sachs is starting to figure it out - we're not going away. Today, on the heels of a massive mobilization in Chicago, hundreds of taxpayers rallied outside Goldman's DC office to deliver a letter for their CEO, Lloyd Blankfein. The letter asked that Goldman Sachs forgo paying out its multi-billion dollar bonus pool and instead use that money to help the millions of families facing foreclosure due to Wall Street's risky behavior. Read more...
NY's Caregivers to the Governor and Legislature: "Enough is Enough"
Nov 15, 2009 - Purple hats and gold thunder sticks carrying the message, "Enough is Enough," filled Albany's West Capitol Park on Thursday as some 5,000 1199SEIU caregivers rallied to protest another round of healthcare budget cuts proposed by New York's Governor David Paterson. $2.2 billion has been cut over the past two years, resulting in the loss of several hospitals and nursing homes in distressed areas. Read more...
What, Exactly, is Going On at 85 Broad Street?
Nov 13, 2009 - Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said in an interview that he and the team at Goldman are "doing God's work." It isn't God's work to kick families out of their homes when they're struggling most. It isn't God's work to use other people's money to pay themselves obscene bonuses. And it isn't God's work to oppose health insurance reform because it's bad for the bottom line. Read more...
UnitedHealth Group pleas for its employees to help stop the public option
Nov 13, 2009 - Yesterday the Washington Post reported that UnitedHealth Group--the nation's biggest health insurance company--is urging its employees to lobby the Senate against health care reform proposals that would hurt the firm's bottom line: profits. UnitedHealth Group reportedly sent 75,000 of its workers an email alleging that "government-run health care" will force "millions of Americans" to drop their current coverage--and asked recipients to take action to put a stop the public option. Read more...
Banks issuing credit cards still up to dirty tricks; predatory practices
Nov 12, 2009 - In May 2009, a bill that would stop the abuses of the credit card industry passed. According to a new report by the Pew Health Group, predatory practices by credit card companies haven't abated since then -- they've actually increased. Read more...
Andy Stern to Senate: "You will be judged on what you deliver."
Nov 10, 2009 - With a historic victory in the U.S. House at our backs, we head into the Senate--where we could face an uphill battle against insurance industry interests. In a Washington Post op-ed, SEIU President Andy Stern speaks on how far our Senate leaders should go to achieve their top health care priorities, and finding a balance between pragmatic compromise vs. selling out. Read more...
Tuesday morning round-up
Nov 10, 2009 - In case you missed it...news highlights from yesterday and this morning on banks, union heroes, health insurance reform, voter turnout and fighting budget cuts [and the swine flu]. Read more...
Setting the record straight on how health care reform is good for seniors
Nov 08, 2009 - In recent months, Republicans have refused to back away from the cynical politics of scaring seniors and claiming reform will make premiums skyrocket for traditional Medicare recipients. A new coalition - Seniors to Seniors -- seeks to provide a clear and concise overview of health reform and what it means for you. Read more...
Republican Congressmen Repeatedly Interrupt Women Colleagues
Nov 07, 2009 - You might be wondering if it's normal for members of Congress to show such disrespect to one another by repeatedly shouting "I OBJECT" over their colleagues. You might also be wondering why Republican Congressmen are so adamantly opposed to allowing women in Congress to speak about gender discrimination in health care. Read more...
Whipping votes for health care reform
Nov 05, 2009 - You can bet that insurance companies like UnitedHealth, Humana and CIGNA have a legion of lobbyists talking to Congressional offices right now. We've got to make sure they remember who they were elected to represent - the American people. Help hold politicians accountable by whipping the vote for health care reform today. Read more...
URGENT ALERT: Call your Senator and stop the Vitter-Bennet amendment
Nov 05, 2009 - We just learned that the Senate is scheduled to vote on the Vitter-Bennett amendment today at noon. It's time to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill. Can you join us in calling your senators right now? Read more...
VA-Gov: Divining meaning that isn't there
Nov 04, 2009 - An email this morning from Jason McBride of the humorously named "Workplace Fairness Institute" read, "Bob McDonnell made EFCA a central issue in his campaign and as a result, small businesses and workers from across the state decided to stand with him." We did a fact check on this point we think you might be interested in. Read more...
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...
ConservativeTransparency.org to Dispel Shroud of My$tery Surrounding Conservatives' AstroTurf Groups
Nov 03, 2009 - We could be looking at the beginning of the end of astroturfing (aka fake grassroots activism). A new database by Media Matters tracks the financial and political ties of conservative think tanks, nonprofit activist groups, and foundations for the public to see: ConservativeTransparency.org. Read more...
Republican Bill Ignores Women's Health Care Issues
Nov 03, 2009 - A version of the Republican health care bill was leaked today, and it's underwhelming, to say the least. For starters, the draft bill completely ignores women's health care issues. Read more...
The Path to Sustainable Economic Recovery
Nov 02, 2009 - Last week, we learned that the swift action by the President and Congress to pass an economic recovery package earlier this year helped stave off a global economic recession, put our economy back on the path of growth, and helped save hundreds of thousands of jobs. Read more...
Make Yourself Heard in Washington: Tweet Your Senator!
Nov 02, 2009 - In our continued efforts to stop an amendment introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (UT-R) that would stop the 2010 Census dead in its tracks, this week SEIU launched a new Twitter tool broadening our online capacity to reach our elected officials. Read more...
Meanwhile, Back in DC...
Oct 29, 2009 - While thousands of Americans were delivering a letter to Goldman Sachs on Sunday demanding they stop using our tax dollars to lobby against financial reform, Goldman Sachs was ...using our tax dollars to lobby against financial reform. Read more...
Understanding the Senate cloture process
Oct 29, 2009 - As we near the time when we expect the Senate to take up a bill and vote on reform, questions about what exactly will be happening from a procedural standpoint arise--foremost among them are cloture and the filibuster. First, filibusters really don't happen the way they did when Mr. Smith went to Washington. Read more...
Tell your Senator "Don't Wreck the Census"
Oct 28, 2009 - Some politicians come up with dumb ideas. Some come up with impractical ideas that would cost taxpayers millions of dollars. And then there are those lawmakers with crazy proposals that would violate the United States Constitution. Rep. Senators Vitter & Bennett hit the trifecta by trying to wreck the US Census. Read more...
Senator Durbin at the Showdown in Chicago
Oct 25, 2009 - Senator Dick Durbin came out to the Showdown in Chicago and talked about one Chicagoan, Netty McGee, and her run-in with big banks. Read more...
Big Banks & U.S. Chamber, There's a New Cop in Town
Oct 23, 2009 - Yesterday the House voted 39 to 29 to move forward with the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, to help put a stop to the dangerous and deceptive products and practices that got us into this mess. It was a sad day for corporations in the financial, insurance, and real estate sector--like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce & the Financial Services Roundtable--who spent a combined total of $321 million lobbying against federal reforms such as limits on bonuses and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). Read more...
Stephen Lerner on CNBC: America Wants Wall Street to Quit Whining
Oct 22, 2009 - Wall Street has a message for Americans who think it's unfair that they take our tax dollars and pay themselves huge bonuses: they need that money for all their hard work. SEIU's Stephen Lerner went on CNBC today to debate a representative of Wall Street over the Obama administration's decision to cap exec pay at seven bailed out firms. Read more...
Obama Administration Begins Crackdown on Bank CEO Salaries
Oct 22, 2009 - The Obama administration has gone and done something that might put a bit of a damper on the bankers' big party in Chicago this weekend. They're drafting a plan, to be announced in the coming days, that will dramatically cut CEO salaries for the companies that took the most taxpayer money during the financial collapse. Read more...
Don't Wreck the Census
Oct 21, 2009 - Last week, Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (HR 2847) which would require that the 2010 Census include a question about immigration or citizenship status. Read more...
Warning: This story is going to make you angry
Oct 21, 2009 - From not covering maternity care to calling domestic violence a pre-existing condition, insurance companies seem to have written the book on how to turn a buck at the expense of millions of women in America. Now add "rape victim" to the long list of ways in which insurance companies discriminate against women. Read more...
In case you missed it...Oct. 21 round-up
Oct 21, 2009 - In case you missed it...news round-up on upcoming Chicago banks actions, unemployment benefits, how an SEIU member became a Ugandan king, SEIU's recent online healthcare campaign waves, and a recent meeting of international labor leaders to discuss Mexico's broken labor laws. Read more...
You've taken a ticket. Now what?
Oct 20, 2009 -
Thousands of people have taken a ticket for gender equity in health care. (We're currently at 2,689 people in line.)
Want to play a bigger role in fighting insurance co. discrimination against women? We rigged our toll-free phone line to direct calls to male members of Congress. Read more...
It's time to deliver
Oct 20, 2009 - Right now, everyone is paying for the cost of our broken health care system. People with "pre-existing conditions" are being denied coverage by insurers. Women are being charged 30-51% more than men for the same health insurance policies. Read more...
SEIU members join thousands for immigration rally & lobby day on Capitol Hill
Oct 19, 2009 - Over 400 SEIU members joined fellow activists and religious leaders for an immigration lobby day and rally to urge Congress to move immigration reform legislation forward. The Capitol Hill rally featured Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, who outlined specifics of immigration reform legislation. Read more...
Defeat of fear well underway in Puerto Rican general strike
Oct 15, 2009 - Two successful events that have already taken place today in the strike include the closing of Plaza Las Americas and more significantly, the defeat of fear. Hundreds of thousands of workers are now marching for justice, overcoming the campaign of media terror launched by the Puerto Rican Government during the last days. Protesters are marching from seven different locations of the Banks Zone in San Juan today, heading towards the southern side of Plaza Las Americas--which is expected to largest public gathering in Puerto Rican history. Read more...
Attention male members of Congress
Oct 15, 2009 - In preparation for Sen. Mikulski's hearings today, we decided to pay a little visit to various male members of Congress yesterday. Armed with information about women's health care, we distributed the flyer to male, Republican Representatives in the Cannon office building. Check out our video... Read more...
Stop Puerto Rico's George Bush
Oct 14, 2009 - Tomorrow, over 200,000 people are preparing to take to the streets in a general strike, and Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño is threatening to charge the protesters with terrorism. Not even Karl Rove and George Bush tried that. Violating the civil rights of your own citizens is unacceptable--ask Congress to hold hearings on Fortuño's anti-American behavior. Read more...
In the Pursuit of Truth: Protecting the U.S. Census
Oct 09, 2009 - Yesterday, in yet another attempt to marginalize U.S. immigrants and inject hate into politics, Senator David Vitter (LA-R) introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that would require questions in the 2010 census on immigration status. If passed, Vitter's amendment would throw a monkey wrench into the U.S. Census, making it completely unreliable as the one document that is supposed to paint an accurate picture of who we are as a nation. Read more...
Female Senators continue crusade for women's health care on Larry King
Oct 09, 2009 - Following up on their rousing back-to-back speeches on the Senate floor, the "women of the Senate" took their message into America's living rooms last night when they appeared on Larry King live. Read more...
Sen. Specter joins 29 other Senators in support of a public option
Oct 08, 2009 - The House won't pass a bill without a public option, and the Senate won't pass one with it. That statement, which has almost become a truism on Capitol Hill, was splashed with a healthy dose of reality by 30 Senators today, including Sen. Specter, who laid out their strong support for a public option. Read more...
Domestic violence is STILL a pre-existing condition
Oct 07, 2009 - One in four women will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime, and 20 to 35 percent of emergency room visits are made by women as result of domestic violence. With unfortunate statistics like these, it's not hard to see why citing the injuries sustained through abuse as a "pre-existing condition" is a practice insurers are motivated to take part in to protect their bottom line--profits. Read more...
SEIU Doctors out in full force on Capitol Hill to support health care reform
Oct 07, 2009 - CIR/SEIU president Dr. Toni Lewis joined 149 other doctors for an event in the Rose Garden with President Barack Obama on Monday, October 5. The President re-iterated that doctors are some of our strongest supporters of reform, because they see first-hand the damage caused by our broken system. Concurrently, 20 CIR/SEIU doctors from MA, NY, FL and CA descended on Capitol Hill to thank their members of Congress for supporting comprehensive reform. Read more...
Taking Congressmen back to school
Oct 05, 2009 - Last week, we covered the many ways in which women are discriminated against in our current health care system. From not covering maternity care to calling domestic violence a pre-existing condition, insurance companies seem to have written the book on how to turn a buck at the expense of millions of women in America. Read more...
Tell Congress: Get It Right on Child Nutrition!
Oct 02, 2009 - On September 30th, the Child Nutrition Act expired. The Congressional Committee on Education and Labor, which oversees the Act, had the opportunity to improve the lives of our children and those that feed them. But rather than pass a bill that would create a program that works far better, they simply decided to simply take a pass for the next few months. Read more...
Four Senators stand up for women's health care rights
Sep 30, 2009 - A few weeks ago, we wrote about research from the National Women's Law Center that uncovered the existence of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition in eight states and DC. We were horrified, as well many other bloggers and reporters. Apparently, so were at least four female Senators. Read more...
What yesterday's vote really means
Sep 30, 2009 - On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted down the public option amendments introduced by Senators Rockefeller and Schumer. Sen. Schumer's public option amendment picked up moderate Democratic votes by Sen. Carper (D-DE) and Sen. Nelson (D-FL)--both of whom received hundreds of phone calls from people across the country in support of a public option. Read more...
Where Does Your Senator Stand?
Sep 29, 2009 - the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on an amendment to include a public option in their health care bill. Guess what - one of your Senators sits on the committee. We can't lose this debate. Will you call your Senator? Dial 1-866-311-3405 and urge your Senator to support a public option. 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...
DREAM students hold over 120 "Back to School" events nationwide
Sep 26, 2009 - On Wednesday, thousands of immigrant students held over 120 events in 28 states to support legislation that would allow talented DREAM students who view this country as their own to attend college, serve their nation, and earn a path to U.S. citizenship. States with the most "Back to School" events included Illinois (7 actions statewide), Texas (11 actions), Florida (15 actions) and California (almost 30 actions). Read more...
Republicans defend seniors insurance company profits
Sep 25, 2009 - On Thursday, as the Republicans continued to wage war on reform by attempting to defend the status quo, they decided to turn their attention to Americans over 65. In an attempt to scare seniors (and pander to their buddies in the insurance industry), the Republicans rose to the "defense" of Medicare, claiming that 10 million senior citizens who have Medicare Advantage would see a loss in their extra benefits under the new bill. The other side's solution? The option of 'doing nothing'...which will lead to a projected bankruptcy of Medicare by 2019. Read more...
Sen. Harry Reid, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Join Healthcare Workers and Providers in Call for Reform: "Every Patient Matters"
Sep 23, 2009 - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined healthcare workers and healthcare providers today to support making healthcare affordable for every American this year. Read more...
Upcoming Rally and Scrubs Delivery on Capitol Hill to Support Healthcare Reform
Sep 22, 2009 - On Wednesday, September 23, nurses, doctors, and SEIU healthcare workers will join Dennis Rivera, Dr. Toni Lewis and activists in a rally on Capitol Hill to deliver the hand-signed scrubs to members of Congress. Read more...
Michelle Obama joins Echo Chamber on Domestic Violence as a "Pre-Existing Condition"
Sep 18, 2009 - Thanks to all of you who took action this week to raise the issue of domestic violence as a "pre-existing condition" in eight states and Washington, DC. You emailed and called, and people are taking notice--including Michelle Obama. The First Lady mentioned the issue of domestic violence as a "pre-existing condition" in her speech on women and health care today. Watch it here. Read more...
Part of insurance industry's money-making plan: Denying coverage to victims of spousal abuse
Sep 17, 2009 - If you're shaking your head at disbelief at the discovery that insurance companies can--and do--deny coverage to victims of spousal abuse by citing the abuse as a "pre-existing condition," you're not alone. On Air America's "The Ron Reagan Show" last night, host Reagan and SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger discussed this outrageous practice "This is outrageous that women who are victims of domestic violence can't have health coverage," said Anna Burger on Air America's "The Ron Reagan Show" last night. Tell members of Congress to step up and get this done--because no one should be denied health care coverage, least of all women who have already endured so much. Read more...
Tell Rep. Kucinich: Demand Answers from the Insurance Industry on Claiming Domestic Violence as a "Pre-Existing Condition"
Sep 16, 2009 - Insurance industry executives are headed to Capitol Hill this week to testify before Rep. Kucinich's subcommittee on domestic policy. Will you write a note to Congressman Kucinich and tell him to confront insurance company executives about classifying domestic violence as a pre-existing condition? Read more...
Rep. Kucinich has opportunity to question insurance
Sep 15, 2009 - As the health care debate unfurled over the past few months, we've seen the great lengths that insurance companies will go to in order to ensure that their profit margins remain high. In some cases, these companies have gone so far as to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence by classifying their experience as a "pre-existing condition." As more of these practices come to light, members of Congress are sitting up and taking notice. Read more...
Anniversary Reminder: No Coercion in Majority Sign-up
Sep 15, 2009 - September 15th marks the second anniversary of New Hampshire's majority sign-up law, which allows public sector workers to form collective bargaining units by signing petitions rather than through an election process. Read more...
Republican Senators Vetoed Insurance Protection for Domestic Violence Victims
Sep 14, 2009 - In DC and eight other states, health insurance companies can deny coverage to victims of domestic violence because they have a "pre-existing condition." While that statement alone is gasp-worthy, the story gets even more appalling: this issue had a chance to be ended - once and for all - in the Senate HELP Committee in 2006. Ten Republican Senators voted against it, including Senators Alexander, Burr, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Gregg, Hatch, Isakson, Roberts and Sessions. Read more...
Senate study blasts furloughs 'penny saved, a dollar lost'
Sep 10, 2009 - A new study by the California state Senate says that furloughs are "costing the state money and further hurting the economy" and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg called for immediate passage of the SEIU Local 1000 contract contract bill, AB 88. Read more...
Obama: This moment calls us to do great things
Sep 09, 2009 - With the President's speech just now, and the movement in Congress over the past 48 hours, it's clear we now have all the pieces in place to move on real health insurance reform. Let's go. We've talked about this for years, we've been debating it for months - now let's get it done. Read more...
New Energy vs. Old Energy: Some members of Congress may not be smarter than cavemen
Sep 09, 2009 - A new coalition unveiled yesterday called "Clean Energy Works" is calling out members of Congress who voted "no" on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Clean Energy Works brings together environmental and religious organizations, business groups, grassroots activists, SEIU and other labor unions--63 groups in all--to push for legislative action on global warming this year and combat the attacks against climate action. Read more...
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Reinvigorates Ad Campaign to Stomp out Consumer Protections
Sep 08, 2009 - As Congress returns from recess and gets back to work to pass legislation to bring access to quality, affordable healthcare to everyone, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is wasting no time working hard to hang onto the same reckless business practices that got us in this hot financial mess in the first place. The Chamber is launching a new $2 million ad campaign attacking the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Read more...
Progress towards protecting American workers
Sep 08, 2009 - Labor Day is a time to reflect on the achievements of the American worker and our nation's commitment to helping all families pursue the American Dream--especially now that many are facing difficult times, as the result of the recession and the anti-worker agenda carried out by the previous administration. In a short period of time, President Obama and the 111th Congress have been working hard to undo many of the policies that have harmed our nation's workers; showing time and time again that they stand on the side of working families. Read more...
This Labor Day, Pledge to Bring Affordable Healthcare to Working Families
Sep 04, 2009 - This Labor Day, nothing is more critical to working families than seeing real progress on healthcare reform. Click here for a listing of events being held on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th. No one knows better than working families and healthcare providers the mounting cost of inaction--and the stakes just keep getting higher. Read more...
The week in review: Local's actions on health care
Sep 04, 2009 - With Labor Day just around the corner and only six days left of Congressional recess, locals across the country are gearing up for a busy weekend. But, amidst the upcoming Labor Day celebrations, SEIU members are still working hard for health care reform. Check out recent actions in Ohio, Maine, Rhode Island, Florida and California. Read more...
Video: Healthcare workers send their message to Congress
Sep 03, 2009 - Doctors, nurses and other health care workers provide comfort and care to some of the sickest Americans, rarely able to leave their posts for any period of time because lives are at stake. As a result, their voices have been largely absent from the debate around health care reform. But, through the Scrubs campaign "Every Patient Matters," healthcare workers around the country have been able to send their message to Congress. Read more...
"Scrubbing in" around the country
Sep 02, 2009 - During a town hall meeting on Monday, Senator Harry Reid showed his support for health care for all Americans by donning a scrub top from the Scrubs project. SEIU District 1199 also got in on the Scrubs action when the OFA bus tour rolled into Columbus, OH, as did medical students a Brown University in Providence, RI, who also joined the Scrubs campaign by writing their stories on scrub tops as well. Read more...
SEIU to Congress: Mark Labor Day with Pledge to Bring Affordable Healthcare Labor Reform to Working Families
Sep 02, 2009 - As Congress looks ahead to the first Labor Day without the guiding hand of Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) called on Congress to mark the holiday with a renewed pledge to bring affordable healthcare and meaningful labor law reform to working families Read more...
Judge tentatively rules that state fund furloughs for 6,000 California workers are illegal
Sep 02, 2009 - Yesterday, a Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling that State Compensation Insurance Fund employees are exempt from Governor Schwarzenegger's furloughs. The lawsuit affects over 6,000 clerical and professional SEIU Local 1000 workers who work for the fund, which provides worker's compensation insurance to employers. Read more...
Local 1199SEIU and 615 Members Remember Senator Kennedy
Aug 31, 2009 - Throughout his storied career, Sen. Kennedy stood with members of SEIU to fight for dignity and respect for working people everywhere. The Senator could always be counted on to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 1199SEIU members in Massachusetts. As a testament to this, stories continue to pour in on the work the Senator championed alongside our members. Read more...
Video: Nurses Reflect on Senator Kennedy's Legacy
Aug 28, 2009 - On Wednesday, as the nation mourned the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy, nurses from Local 1199 at Prince George's Hospital Center in Maryland took a moment out of their day to reflect on the Senator's legacy. The PGHC nurses expressed both their sadness over the Senator's death, but also the need to carry on his dream and renew our efforts in fighting for what Kennedy called the "cause of my life": healthcare reform. Read more...
Senator Grassley on Healthcare: A Study in Contradiction
Aug 28, 2009 - Iowa's senior senator Charles Grassley is rapidly becoming the Republican Party's chief obstructionist in the health care debate. The ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee is going on the offensive against President Obama and members of Congress who support comprehensive reform. In a conference call Tuesday, Senator Grassley told Iowa reporters, "I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration because they're all over the field - all over the ball park." Read more...
1199SEIU pays respect to Sen. Kennedy on his final motorcade trip through Boston
Aug 28, 2009 - Yesterday in Massachusetts, hundreds of tearful SEIU members in lined the streets of Boston clutching purple signs with a simple message: "Thank You Teddy." 1199SEIU joined other labor organizations and tens of thousands of grateful citizens who lined the route from Kennedy's home on Cape Cod to the JFK Presidential Library - saluting the Senator as he made one final trip through his beloved city of Boston. Read more...
SEIU Locals & Change That Works in action on healthcare
Aug 27, 2009 - SEIU members around the country have spent the month of August meeting with their members of Congress and engaging in meaningful conversation about healthcare reform. Read about reform events held in Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Viriginia and Washington in just the last week. Read more...
Across America: Rally for Health Insurance Reform
Aug 27, 2009 - The teabag protesters make a lot of noise - but they don't speak for the majority of Americans. And they certainly don't speak for the 47 million Americans who can't afford health care; or the millions more who are one paycheck away from losing it. Fixing health care is too important to let those Americans get lost in all this back-and-forth. Help us send congress back to Washington with a clear directive on health care reform. Join us at send-off rallies across the country. Read more...
Video of Senator Kennedy: "We are a Nation of Immigrants"
Aug 27, 2009 - For over 40 years, Senator Ted Kennedy was a tireless advocate and voice for immigrant rights. On April 10, 2006, Sen. Ted Kennedy joined 200,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C for a rally supporting his plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Watch his speech to the crowd of 200,000 rally-goers here. Read more...
Making Kennedy's Vision for America a Reality
Aug 26, 2009 - For five decades, Senator Kennedy stood with working families to fight for our shared vision of America where every family has access to affordable healthcare, every worker has a paycheck that supports a family, and every child is guaranteed a brighter future. Let's continue to make Kennedy's vision for America a reality by taking action this year to pass healthcare reform. Read more...
Congresswoman Maxine Waters Speaks Truth To Power
Aug 25, 2009 - Deep in the heart of south Los Angeles, Rep. Maxine Waters hosted a health care town hall at Southwest College. The well-attended town hall was packed to the gills well before its scheduled start time of 1 PM and the primarily pro- health care reform crowd consisted of SEIU members, Organizing for America activists and other concerned citizens and organizers. A festive atmosphere met the town hall attendees as they gathered in the warm breeze and signed pledge forms to support health care reform. Two orderly lines were formed by Rep. Waters Congressional staffers and each person signed in before they entered the Southwest College Town Center. Read more...
SEIU Locals 615 & 1199 Partner to Sign Scrubs
Aug 25, 2009 - Since the launch of "Every Patient Matters" campaign with the Partnership for Quality Care last week, numerous SEIU Locals with members working in health care facilities have already held scrub signing actions at health care facilities their members work at. Yesterday at Whidden Hospital, SEIU Local 615 and Local 1199 teamed up to sign scrubs. Read more...
Foundation Laid for Needed Immigration Reform
Aug 20, 2009 - Yesterday, joined by other labor, advocacy, faith and business leaders, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina met with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to lay the groundwork on immigration reform. Read more...
Update on Herta - and some good news
Aug 19, 2009 - Today, after days of activism by Senator Carl Levin, Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick and thousands of grassroots activists, Herta was granted and extension on her deportation to Albania until November 9, 2009. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, Herta will still have to report back to ICE on November 9th--and that's not good enough. Read more...
TODAY: Join the Call with President Obama
Aug 19, 2009 - I'm getting on a call with President Obama on Thursday, August 20 and I want you to join me. The President is holding a live health care reform strategy meeting at 2:30 pm EST. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward, and he'll answer questions from SEIU members and supporters like you. Read more...
Herta's Bags Are Packed
Aug 18, 2009 - Tomorrow, 19 year-old Herta Llushlo will be removed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the only place she knows as home and deported to Albania - her bags are already packed. You can make sure that doesn't happen. Can you write Secretary Napolitano in support of Herta Llushlo? Help renew the promise of the American Dream for Herta, so that together we can work renew the promise of the American Dream for everyone. Read more...
New Coalition Campaign, Ads to Debunk Anti-Reform Myths
Aug 13, 2009 - To help debunk the misinformation being spread about what health care reform actually means for Americans, a new coalition called Americans for Stable Quality Care--which includes the SEIU, American Medical Association (AMA), PhRMA, the Federation of American Hospitals and FamiliesUSA--will launch their first ad today as part of an August recess campaign for health care reform. Read more...
August 11: International Day of Solidarity with Honduras
Aug 11, 2009 - To support the courage of the Honduran people living in limbo and fight back against attacks against democracy and human rights, hundreds of organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad have responded to the call that today be International Day of Solidarity with Honduras. Read more...
The Daily Show Takes on Teabaggers (Video)
Aug 11, 2009 - Leave it to John Stewart to bring a little clarity on the opponents of health care reform. Read more...
A more perfect union: Senate confirms Sotomayor for Supreme Court
Aug 06, 2009 - What a unifying moment for so many in our country today, as the U.S. Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as the nation's 111th Supreme Court justice. She will be the Court's third woman and its first ever Latina. Read more...
Radical-Fringe Obstructs Health Reform, Promotes Disruption and Mythology
Aug 06, 2009 - During the past several days, radical-fringe opponents of health care reform have disrupted town hall meetings conducted by members of Congress. At the same time, these radical-fringe groups are disseminating discredited myths about health care reform bills that were adopted by four Congressional committees. Read more...
Republican Misinformation about Health Care
Jul 31, 2009 - As the House leaves for August recess, the Republican party is pulling out all stops as they misinform the public about the true cost of health care reform. With H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act--which should be exempt from the usual political machinations-- the health and welfare of Hoosiers and folks throughout the country is at stake. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana continues to spread false information about the cost of the bill. In an interview on MSNBC, Rep. Pence incorrectly states that the health reform bill would result in one trillion dollars in new taxes. Even the news anchor knows something is wrong with Pence's calculations. Read more...
Educating on the Employee Free Choice Act
Jul 31, 2009 - Paul Begala has an incredibly powerful and persuasive op-ed in Politicotoday making the case for the Employee Free Choice Act. After introducing nightmare hypothetical scenarios of workers getting fired for trying to organize, Begala pulls back the curtain and reveals the stories are about real workers who were fighting for better jobs. Read more...
Change That Works demands reform from elected officials: August Congressional recess events
Jul 30, 2009 - As members of the U.S. House and Senate turn their sights from committee hearings and floor votes in D.C., to barbecues and luncheons back home, SEIU's Change That Works team is ready to ensure they don't forget the promises they made on the campaign trail to fix our broken healthcare system and support hardworking families. Read more...
Do you think they're getting the message?
Jul 29, 2009 - Attacking Reform with Insurance Company-Owned Research? So far hundreds of you have watched this video and used Twitter to call out the people trying to pass off the Lewin Group as "independent." I just took a screen shot of all the @replies to Senator Grassley's Twitter feed - take a look... Read more...
Lewin Group FAIL
Jul 29, 2009 - Imagine you're an insurance company making billions of dollars by charging people tons of money for health care. Now, imagine there's a reform bill in Congress that could end your stranglehold on the market, forcing you to lower your prices and improve your services. Read more...
Why call Congress for healthcare reform?
Jul 28, 2009 - Still looking for more reasons why you should tell your representative we need to pass health reform now? Here's one:
Calling on Congress to Fix Health Care - Have You Sent Your Message?
Jul 28, 2009 - If you're one of the 98% of Americans who make less than $250,000 every year, you stand to save a lot of money through the health care reform bill in Congress. Click here to tell Congress it's time everyone - even millionaires - did their part to fix health care. Read more...
CA budget outcome declares its winners: Corporations. The losers: Everyone Else.
Jul 27, 2009 - Even though the new California state budget approved by legislators on Friday puts an end to the endless "debate" that's been causing debilitating migraines even in those who don't suffer them, the pain is far from over. Governor Schwarzenegger and lawmakers proved they're no 'girlie-men' with California's budget cuts by taking healthcare from the sick and frail and every kind of care from the elderly; by closing schools so kids have nowhere to learn, and after-school programs so they have nowhere else to go. 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...
Meet Taha - a DREAM Act Student who is facing deportation
Jul 24, 2009 - SEIU is teaming up with Dreamactivist.org to help stop the deportation of another Dream Act student, Taha. On July 29, 2009, Taha will be deported to Bangladesh - a country that he has no memory of or connection to. Read more...
July 24th: Minimum wage inches up to $7.25/hour
Jul 23, 2009 - Starting tomorrow, the Federal minimum wage is increasing from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour, the last part of the 2007 minimum wage legislation passed by Congress. Read more...
Al Franken raises the SEIU roof
Jul 21, 2009 - Al Franken, like many ex-performers, knows when to arrive at stage right at the critical moment of a new play. Six months into the new Obama administration as we now get ready to pass for the first time in 223 years, a healthcare bill and in the coming months, the Employee Free Choice Act, Sen. Al Franken's presence and strong leadership in the Senate couldn't have come at a better time. Read more...
Demint's Slip-Up
Jul 20, 2009 - Republicans have pledged to be working in good faith with Democrats, despite their nonstop battering ram of rhetoric (re: "socialized medicine," "rationing of care" and blaming Canada), and have left the dirty work of killing health care to pundits and Fox News anchors. But now, there's been a slip-up. And not just by any Republican - but by a very prominent Republican leader... Read more...
If you're one of millions of Americans without adequate coverage, this bill is for you
Jul 17, 2009 - Yesterday on Capitol Hill, SEIU Healthcare 775NW member and Montana home care worker Pat DeJong stood alongside Senators Dodd, Mikulski, and Harkin to celebrate the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee's passage of healthcare reform bill, the first of the Congressional panels to approve the health legislation. Read more...
Recognize the important role food service workers play in your kids' health
Jul 16, 2009 - Yesterday, Service Workers United cafeteria workers from across the country went to Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress for stronger USDA Child Nutrition Programs. Watch Illinois food service worker Marlon Taylor discuss why he loves his job working with kids and why it's important to improve the Child Nutrition Act. Read more...
School Food Workers to Members of Congress: We're Hungry for Change
Jul 15, 2009 - For the first time in the 63-year history of our nation's School Lunch Program, front-line food service workers are on Capitol Hill today to petition their government to strengthen the program that serves food to more than 30 million children every day. Read more...
House Releases Health Care Reform Bill
Jul 14, 2009 - Leaders in the House of Representatives have released their comprehensive plan for reforming health care today. It's a complete, thorough bill that will take some time to comb through and examine all the details. But, the preliminary analyses conclude that it's a huge step toward fixing health care and a major victory for all of us who have been working for quality, affordable health care. Read more...
Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger: Trail of broken campaign promises must end
Jul 14, 2009 - "Governor, we've sacrificed. And we've now reached our limit. We cannot, and will not, allow you to use us as pawns in your political power game," writes SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker in a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger concerning the California union's contract deal and latest budget proposal. The Governor's proposal seeks to pile on an additional 5 percent pay reduction or fourth furloughed work day for more than 230,000 state workers. Read more...
Congressional praise for SEIU's work on behalf of Walter Lara & the DREAM Act
Jul 10, 2009 - Earlier today, Congressman Polis praised SEIU in his personal privilege floor speech for our work on behalf of Walter Lara and the DREAM Act. Read more...
Conservative obstructionists are not serious about reform
Jul 09, 2009 - Conservative obstructionists are still not serious about reforming our broken health care system to rein in the costs that are crushing families and businesses, and exploding our deficit. Read more...
Sarah Jones: A Right to Care
Jul 08, 2009 - The Associated Press calls her "astounding." People Magazine calls her "amazing." We call her one of the most important and engaging messengers ever to tackle the issue of health care disparities in America. And she's performing in Washington, DC on Thursday, July 9th and St. Paul, MN on July 11th. Read more...
July 7th & 8th: National Healthcare Call-In Day
Jul 07, 2009 - As SEIU members, our calls are especially important right now. Industry lobbyists may have deep pockets, but they can't talk about health care the same way we can. Call your member of Congress right now: 1-800-603-SEIU Read more...
Stopping Walter Lara's deportation is just the beginning
Jul 06, 2009 - Thanks to everyone who rallied around Walter's cause and took action, he's not being deported today. But personal interventions won't help the tens of thousands of other DREAMers who stand to benefit from passage of the DREAM Act--this is why we need Congress to pass the DREAM Act. Read more...
Change that Works campaign turns up the heat for healthcare during recess
Jul 06, 2009 - This year during the Congressional Fourth of July recess, SEIU & Change that Works activists created fireworks across the country. Here are a few highlights from the recess activities. Read more...
Governor Rell's veto stamps out dreams of working people
Jul 02, 2009 - The unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), District 1199 launched their latest TV ad this week taking aim at Governor Jodi Rell for protecting the wealthy in a time of crisis. Read more...
Senate HELP Committee Releases Complete Health Care Bill
Jul 02, 2009 - For months, we've been standing firm on our call for Congress to deliver a health care bill that does a few, simple things. It has to lower health care costs for patients, businesses, and governments. It has to improve the quality of care for patients. And it has to make sure that every American, regardless of who they are or how much money that make, has access to affordable care. Today, we have that bill. Read more...
HAARM: Takin' It To The Streets
Jul 01, 2009 - This weekend, the same groups that organized anti-Obama "tea parties" around the country are putting together another round of July 4th tea parties. This time, killing health care reform is at the top of their agenda. Naturally, HAARM wanted to get in on the fun. Check out the video of HAARM's anti-health care reform protest: www.haarm.org Read more...
Working families need Al Franken in the U.S. Senate
Jun 30, 2009 - The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that Al Franken won the state's U.S. Senate election last November against incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.). Read more...
DREAM Act Rally and Lobby Day
Jun 26, 2009 - Students file in wearing colors mixed like an unsolved Rubik's cube--some wearing chords representing achievement and honors. Friends straighten each other's caps. The rainbow of the march is accompanied by a violin and the pomp and circumstances of cameras flashing. Read more...
Health Care '09 Rally: Photo Slideshow
Jun 25, 2009 - Joined by SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, Actress Edie Falco, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and other leaders, more than 10,000 healthcare advocates from across the country kicked off the Health Care For America Now (HCAN)'s historic lobby day with a rally in upper Senate Park. Read more...
Healthcare Equality 2009: Lighting up the Future
Jun 25, 2009 - Last night, an impressive group of speakers and passionate activists gathered in Washington DC, in the appropriately named Freedom Plaza, to declare their commitment to advocacy and demand that Congressional reform efforts address systemic inequality in the American health care system. Punctuated throughout the evening by the rhythmic sounds of Rudy Gonzalez Y Su Lokura's Latin jazz band, the evening was a tribute to both the passion and diversity involved in the health care reform movement. Read more...
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members head to DC for Health Care '09 rally and lobby day
Jun 24, 2009 - Now is the time for healthcare reform, and SEIU members from 1199NW are helping to lead the way. Delegations of community leaders from over 40 states are being flown into Washington for in order to meet with key Members of Congress, and four SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members will be among them. Read more...
Liveblogging: Health Care Events on Capitol Hill
Jun 24, 2009 - We live blogged the health care events taking place today at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. People of all religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds came together to rally for health care equality across America! Read more...
350 New Bedford Factory Workers Fight to Save Their Jobs
Jun 24, 2009 - Remember the infamous Bianco Factory raid in New Bedford, MA where hundreds of hard-working immigrants were rounded up, detained and separated from their families? Today, a horrible experience of déjà vu as workers at the same factory who make backpacks for the U.S. army face yet another tragedy, as new owner Alliant threatens to shut the factory down. Read more...
Meet HAARM: Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine
Jun 23, 2009 - Is it just me, or do our opponents sound crazier every day? Take opponents of health care reform; they're spending millions of dollars on TV ads that call the President's plan "socialism," "rationing," and "a government takeover." It sort of makes you wonder - where do these people come up with this stuff? Meet HAARM: Health Americans Against Reforming Medicine - www.haarm.org Read more...
Catholic Bishops and Labor Unions Announce Agreement on Respecting the Rights of Healthcare Workers
Jun 22, 2009 - The new report, "Respecting the Just Rights of Workers: Guidance and Options for Catholic Healthcare and Unions," renews the Bishops' call to Catholic health care employers to support the rights of workers to choose to join a union free from intimidation or harassment. Read more...
NBC/WSJ Poll: 76% of Americans Support Public Health Insurance Option
Jun 18, 2009 - Congress can't seem to reach a consensus, but the American people have overwhelmingly made up their minds: we need a public health insurance option. A new poll conducted by NBC and the Wall Street Journal is the latest in a series of polls to show convincing support for a choice between a private or public health insurance plan among the American people. Read more...
State Legislators to the Hill: We Need Health Care Reform
Jun 17, 2009 - 700 state legislators from every state have signed on to a letter to the President, HHS Secretary Sebelius, and leaders in Congress, asking them to support the key ingredients for real health care reform. And, today, a delegation of legislators from around the country will be on Capitol Hill to meet with the White House and deliver the letter. Read more...
We thought an elephant never forgot?
Jun 16, 2009 - The National Republican Senatorial Committee is planning on going after Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), according to a Roll Call article today. Yet the NRSC seems to have already forgotten the lessons of the 2008 campaigns, in which groups spent millions attacking Democrats on Employee Free Choice only to see those candidates go on to win--with voters approving Employee Free Choice by a considerable margin. Read more...
Senators push for wage and hour protections for home care workers
Jun 13, 2009 - A group of 15 Senators led by Senator Harkins (D-IA) have sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, urging the Department of Labor to expand federal wage and hour laws to an estimated 1.5 million home care workers in the U.S., one of the fastest-growing professions in the country today. Read more...
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Stands Up for its Constituents: Ken Lewis and Bank of America
Jun 12, 2009 - Yesterday the U.S. Chamber of Commerce saw fit to stand up for Bank of America's disgraced ex-Chairman and current CEO Ken Lewis. Lewis testified to the House Oversight Committee about the bank's purchase and subsequent bleeding of Merrill Lynch. Read more...
SEIU's Andy Stern--A Key Player in Healthcare Reform
Jun 11, 2009 - The PBS NewsHour has identified SEIU President Andy Stern as a key player lobbying for healthcare reform. 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...
New online campaign for Employee Free Choice: Stand with working people, not greedy CEOs
Jun 10, 2009 - Yesterday SEIU launched an online campaign asking senators to stand with working people, not greedy CEOs, on the Employee Free Choice Act. In addition to putting out the four web videos, the SEIU is also launching email campaigns targeting the five senators, with much the same message and aim. Read more...
What would you ask BofA CEO Ken Lewis?
Jun 10, 2009 - This Thursday, Ken Lewis will be in front of Congress to answer questions about Bank of America's business practices. If you're an employee of Bank of America, here's an opportunity for you: What do you want to ask Ken Lewis? Submit your questions at http://letstalkbanks.com/ask/ 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...
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...
How about now? Reform Immigration FOR America
Jun 03, 2009 - Yesterday, a broad coalition of allies from labor, business, and community groups officially kicked off the national campaign Reform Immigration FOR America (RIFA)in Washington, DC. SEIU is a part of this exciting grassroots movement to reform immigration, and we invite you to join us. Read more...
Survey Results: The American Dream and the New Progressive Majority
Jun 02, 2009 - Change to Win released the results of the seventh in its ongoing series of American Dream surveys today, measuring views on how strong majorities of working Americans view the economy, the role of government, the American Dream, and the action agenda that is at the heart of the new progressive majority. Read more...
Wal-Mart Responsible for Black Friday Trampling Death
May 28, 2009 - So what's the punishment for shocking corporate negligence that results in the death of a worker like in the case of Wal-Mart temporary employee Jdimytai Damour? OSHA hit them with the maximum fine allowable by law -- $7,000. Read more...
SEIU Healthcare Turns Up the Heat During Memorial Day Recess
May 25, 2009 - While many will be enjoying BBQs and beach time this weekend, SEIU advocates of healthcare reform will be pushing their Members of Congress and neighbors to support measures like a public health insurance option that increases choice and reduces costs. Read more...
Grassley Open to Public Health Care Plan Option
May 22, 2009 - Senator Grassley has been working hard to craft a health care legislation bill that works for everyone, and we applaud his considerable effort in the cause for quality, affordable health care reform. However, now is not the time to sacrifice the public health plan option for the sake of political compromise. Read more...
New Research Shows Rise of Corporate Intimidation and Threats Towards Workers for Supporting a Union
May 20, 2009 - The current system to form a union in the workplace is grossly slanted in favor of employers who too often use harassment and intimidation to stop unions and keep workers from getting a fair deal--and it's only gotten worse in recent years. A new EPI report reveals that employer tactics against workers' efforts to form unions have increased and become more punitive than in the past. Read more...
The GOP Health Care Proposal: More of the Same
May 20, 2009 - Republicans in Congress dusted off John McCain's health care proposal from the 2008 campaign and reintroduced it at a press conference in Washington today. The proposal, which serves as their counter to President Obama's plan for health care reform, replaces the coverage people have with an insufficient tax subsidy that doesn't even cover half of the average family's health care premiums. Read more...
The Party of No...Health Care? We Hope Not.
May 19, 2009 - Last Sunday, RNC Chair Michael Steele revealed his party's intentions when it comes to fixing our broken health care system. Watch Chairman Steele demonstrate why his party is now referred to as the "Party of No". Read more...
The Latest Victims of the Broken Health Care System: Medicare Recipients
May 13, 2009 - The big news out of Washington is that the Social Security and Medicare Trust funds are in worse shape than we thought. According to the Medicare Trustees' report released yesterday, we're going to exhaust Medicare by 2017 unless we take immediate action. Read more...
Call the Senate: Support the Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights
May 12, 2009 - President Obama said he wants to sign a bill that protects credit card holders, but Big Banks are twisting the arms of your senators to get them to oppose even the most basic reforms. Make the call now: tell your senators to support the Dodd-Shelby amendment to the Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights. Read more...
Calling It What It Is: Frank Luntz's Hit Job on Health Care
May 08, 2009 - Opponents of health care reform have been wringing their hands these last few months. Ever since America elected a president dedicated to fixing our broken system last November, it seems that no amount of spin can distract people from the fact that we're paying billions of dollars for a health care system that doesn't work. This week, as a last ditch effort, Republican spin-doctor Frank Luntz floated a confidential memo on how to scare Americans into believing health care reform is bad. The only problem: the memo was leaked. And, now, the media and members of Congress are calling his bluff. Read more...
Fixing Health Care: Put Your Hand In
May 06, 2009 - Sitting among the insurance executives, business leaders, and Washington lobbyists in the audience of yesterday's roundtable on health care reform were a handful of frontline caregivers from SEIU. They came from across the country to be on Capitol Hill yesterday, and they served as a powerful reminder of the people the debate over health care reform is really about - patients and their caregivers. Read more...
YouTube Video Contest: Why the Employee Free Choice Act & being in a union is important to LGBT workers
May 06, 2009 - To help give discrimination the "one two" punch, Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work recently launched SharedAgenda.org to build support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Employee Free Choice Act. Join this campaign by submitting a video that explains to Americans why we need to quickly pass both pieces of pro-equality legislation. Read more...
Recap & Pics: May 1st Immigration Rallies in NYC and Chicago
May 06, 2009 - Gray skies and rainy conditions in NYC and Chicago didn't deter thousands of community and labor activists from marching on May 1st to call on Congress and the Obama administration to reform the immigration system by providing a path to citizenship for 12 million undocumented workers. Read more...
Andy Stern's Testimony to Congress: The Face of the Health Care Crisis
May 06, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern visited Capitol Hill Tuesday in one of the last official opportunities to provide input on health care reform before a final piece of legislation is drafted next month. Learn about the standards SEIU uses to measure the success of the healthcare system that works for America's working families. Read more...
Your Voices: What Sen. Specter's Announcement Means for Us
May 04, 2009 - If you thought that Sen. Specter's party-affiliation change from a Republican to a Democrat meant an automatic endorsement from labor unions for his 2010 election...think again. In the memo Andy Stern sent to PA members late last week, he affirmed that we will maintain our ramped-up efforts to reach out to the Senator and let our concerns be known on the need for reform to our nation's labor laws. Read more...
This has to stop
May 03, 2009 - Next week, SEIU President Andy Stern will be going toCapitol Hill for a Senate roundtable on fixing health care and he wants to use your voice to tell the real story of this health care crisis. Will you take a moment to share your health care story? Read more...
May 1st marches across the country signal "new day" for immigration reform
Apr 30, 2009 - This May 1st, thousands of workers, labor leaders and community activists are taking it to the streets to demand justice for all workers and pressure Congress to pass humane reform that puts an end to the Bush administration's immigration policies. Read more...
Sebelius Confirmation Brings America One Step Closer To Fixing Our Broken Healthcare System
Apr 28, 2009 - "The 6 million hardworking Change to Win affiliate members hoped the current economic crisis and overwhelming burden healthcare costs place on working families would be enough for a speedy confirmation. We are encouraged that obstructionists in the Senate have finally realized that dragging their feet on reforming our healthcare system only harms working families, small businesses and our economy. A potential pandemic with severe economic consequences only reaffirmed the immediate and critical need for leadership at HHS. Read more...
Andy Stern's Statement on Senator Arlen Specter
Apr 28, 2009 - Statement from SEIU President Andy Stern on Sen. Specter's announcement that he is switching political parties to become a Democrat. Read more...
Today is Equal Pay Day for Women
Apr 28, 2009 - Today, April 28, is Equal Pay Day, marking the point in 2009 when the average woman's wages finally catch up with what the average man earned in 2008. Read more...
TV Ad: America Wants Green Jobs
Apr 24, 2009 - SEIU and coalition partners MoveOn Political Action, Blue Green Alliance, AFL-CIO, Environmental Defense Fund and the League of Conservation Voters launched an ad this week called "America Wants Green Jobs," to highlight good, green jobs in the clean energy economy. Read more...
Baucus Gets Things Moving on Health Care
Apr 23, 2009 - The crowd spilled into the overflow room Monday, as the Senate Finance Committee, Chaired by Montana Senator Max Baucus, began the process of, at last, making health care reform a reality in this country. Monday's hearing was an encouraging sign that we're on the right track. Read more...
In Case You Missed It: Rallies, Events Continue Across the Country in Support of Employee Free Choice Act
Apr 17, 2009 - In Washington, they may have questioned whether the Employee Free Choice Act battle was drawing to a close. Good thing no one told the rest of the country, where rallies and activities in favor of the bill are going strong. From Maine to North Dakota, activists gathered to tell their Senators, the time for the Employee Free Choice Act is now. Read more...
CIR/SEIU Members Discuss Healthcare Reform during Congressional Recess
Apr 16, 2009 - Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare have been participating in in-district health care reform events during the Congressional spring recess. Several events took place over the past week in New Jersey, New York and New Mexico. Read more...
Senator Grassley Says Progress on Healthcare Depends Upon Bipartisanship
Apr 15, 2009 - "The true test of this bipartisanship process will be how we handle the details," said Senator Charles E. Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, last week in a Mason City, Iowa, health forum including panelists from AARP and SEIU. Speaking about competition between insurance companies, Local 199 member and RN Mary Burke commented, "I think competition would actually be meaningful if we have a public health care system. If you don't have everybody insured, we're still going to have the problem." Read more...
Labor Groups United to Unveil Unified Immigration Reform Framework
Apr 14, 2009 - Today, the Change to Win federation and AFL-CIO unveiled a unified framework for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The proposal endorses legalizing the status of tundocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. and opposes the adoption of employers' incentive to hire undocumented workers rather than U.S. workers. Read more...
Dennis Rivera and Michael Bloomberg: Health Care Reform is a Must
Apr 14, 2009 - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera have published a joint op-ed on the Huffington Post with a simple message: health care reform must happen this year, period. Read more...
President Obama Creates Office of Health Reform
Apr 08, 2009 - By executive order, President Obama established the White House Office of Health Reform today. According to the order, it "will provide leadership to the executive branch in establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for the Federal Government's comprehensive effort to improve access to health care, the quality of such care, and the sustainability of the health care system." Read more...
NYT: We Should Have a Public Health Insurance Option
Apr 08, 2009 - The New York Times is out in front with an early endorsement of a public health insurance option as part of any plan to fix health care: A new public plan - to offer consumers greater choice, keep the private... Read more...
Ezra Klein: Fixing Health Care Shouldn't Mean Choosing Between Two Extremes
Apr 07, 2009 - Rather than deciding as a society how much will be spent in the coming year and then figuring out how best to spend it, we abdicate collective responsibility and let individuals fend for themselves. So although Britain and Canada have decided that no one will go without, even if some must occasionally wait, the U.S. has decided that most of those who can't afford care simply won't get it. Read more...
Senator Schumer: Competition Works for Health Care
Apr 06, 2009 - That's where Senator Schumer comes in. During the coming months, as the plans for health care reform unfold, his job is to make sure Congress is looking out for patients and not profits by including a public health insurance option into the mix. Backing him up will be President Obama and the soon-to-be-Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. And, of course, all of us. Read more...
Free Sebelius!
Apr 03, 2009 - It's with great disappointment that we received news this morning that an "unnamed Republican Senator" put a hold on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' confirmation as Health and Human Services Secretary. At a time when the U.S. economy is collapsing under the elephantine costs of our broken health care system, how is it that one anonymous Senator can obstruct filling the leadership post of our nation's top health agency? Read more...
Moving Forward: Congress Passes President Obama's Budget
Apr 03, 2009 - Today, we moved a little bit closer to fixing health care. Nothing about it was easy, but Congress has passed a budget that includes a historic commitment to health care reform. It follows the president's directive to establish a health reform reserve fund to cover the cost of health care without raising the deficit. Consider this a promise to the American people that real change is coming this year. Read more...
Budget Coming As Soon As Today
Apr 02, 2009 - The AP is reporting that Congress is expected to take a final vote on a budget resolution as early as today. Both the House and Senate Budget Committees released their own proposals last week that protect the key investments President Obama had requested for fixing health care and restoring the economy. Read more...
'West Wing' actors join workers, members of Congress to unveil "Faces of the Employee Free Choice Act" campaign
Mar 31, 2009 - On Tuesday, March 31, Hollywood "West Wing" stars Martin Sheen and Bradley Whitford descended upon the nation's Capitol to join workers, union leaders and members of Congress for the unveiling of a new ad and grassroots campaign. Read more...
White House Report: The Costs of Inaction
Mar 30, 2009 - The White House issued a report on health care this morning that serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for reform. Released online at HealthReform.gov, the report documents the widespread effects of the health care crisis across the United States. Read more...
SEIU COPE TV ad for Scott Murphy - NY-20
Mar 27, 2009 - SEIU COPE (Committee on Public Education) released an ad today in support of Scott Murphy in New York's 20th Congressional District. Read more...
Arlen Specter: Don't Cave to Big Business
Mar 25, 2009 - We need Congress to act as swiftly on real economic recovery for working people in America as they did to bail out Wall Street. Senator Specter can bring this change - but he needs to hear from you now. Read more...
We Want Justice, Not Blood
Mar 19, 2009 - Yesterday, I sat for several hours in a House subcommittee meeting, waiting for a satisfying moment that never came. Scores of cameras, dozens of spectators, and the "Ladies in Pink" (who nearly got thrown out of the hearing for waving signs that said "Jail AIG") joined me as we waited for hours to hear from the CEO of AIG, Edward Liddy. Read more...
Congress Needs to Hear From Us
Mar 18, 2009 - There are lots of lessons to be learned from previous attempts to fix health care - and a few critical mistakes that we cannot repeat. One of those mistakes is assuming that, just because a piece of legislation doesn't say "health care reform" in the title, it isn't critical to solving the crisis. Read more...
From Reno to Capitol Hill
Mar 18, 2009 - This week has been quite the whirlwind. I left my home in Reno to join coworkers from my hospital (and hundreds of other SEIU members from across the country) to talk to our elected officials in Washington, DC about the need for the Employee Free Choice Act, and why giving workers a voice will help get our country back on track. Read more...
SEIU Supports New Bill to Ease Debt for Nursing Students
Mar 13, 2009 - Iowa Congressman Tom Latham and Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill on Thursday aimed at easing the debt burden on nursing students and combating America's nursing shortage. Read more...
Ten Things You Should Know About the President's Budget
Mar 11, 2009 - President Obama recently unveiled his budget for getting America back on track - and it includes a significant downpayment toward fixing health care. As usual, opponents of reform are on the attack, attempting to turn our national discussion on health care into an uninformed, schoolyard brawl. Just check out Rep. Zach Wamp's recent appearance on MSNBC: Read more...
What is the media saying about yesterday's Employee Free Choice rally?
Mar 10, 2009 - Yesterday, hundreds of workers from across the country rallied at the offices of major corporate industry associations to expose the huge scope of their DC lobbying against measures that could help working people in today's economy. We've compiled a short round-up of the media coverage surrounding SEIU's demonstrations - here are a few highlights. Read more...
SEIU in the White House
Mar 06, 2009 - Yesterday, Andy Stern, Anna Burger, and Dennis Rivera were back at the White House for the president's forum on health care. They were there to represent the two million SEIU members that have been fighting so hard for so long to see real changes in the health care system. Check out their video from the north gate. Read more...
White House Health Summit
Mar 05, 2009 - Today, President Obama hosted a one-day health forum at the White House to officially launch a discussion on how we can bring about meaningful change in health care. The 120 participants - Republicans, Democrats, insurance companies, labor, doctors and patient advocates, including SEIU's President Andy Stern, Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and SEIU Healthcare chair Dennis Rivera - will be working together to offer up ideas for the best way to make reform happen. Read more...
Standing Up for Homecare Workers in Washington (Video)
Mar 04, 2009 - I attended a hearing at the Rayburn building about "Family Friendly Policies". A very brave woman named Rebia Mixon Clay told a very compelling and powerful story about the vicissitudes of she faces every day as a home health care Worker. Ms. Mixon Clay, was succinct, on point and eloquent. In a very personal and uplifting way she brought home the plight of many people in this country. Read more...
Kathleen Sebelius Ready to Lead Healthcare Reform in 2009
Mar 02, 2009 - President Obama's appointment of Governor Kathleen Sebelius confirms his commitment to health care reform. This is yet another clear signal that this is the year to make quality, affordable health care for everyone a reality. Read more...
Watch SEIU President Andy Stern on C-Span
Feb 28, 2009 - Don't miss Andy Stern this weekend on Washington Journal, C-Span's national public affairs show. Stern will discuss the American worker in the current economy, the Obama Administration, expectations of the Labor Department under new Secretary Hilda Solis, and what role labor plays in uplifting America's working families and communities. Read more...
Speaker Pelosi: We Will Fix Health Care This Year
Feb 26, 2009 - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was on the Rachel Maddow Show last night to discuss, among other things, the timeline for health care reform. Read more...
President Obama's Budget: "A New Era for Working Families"
Feb 26, 2009 - Change to Win Chair and SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, issued the following statement about President Barack Obama's proposed budget. Read more...
White House Budget Suggests "Health Care is a Go"
Feb 25, 2009 - Today, news reports suggest that the president intends to make a serious investment in fixing, once and for all, our broken health care system. According to the Associated Press, the White House budget includes $634 billion for health care over the course of 10 years. Read more...
SEIU Launches Illinois TV Ad in Support of Congressional Candidate & Healthcare Champion Sara Feigenholtz
Feb 25, 2009 - In anticipation of next week's special primary election, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced today that it has begun a new, aggressive television ad campaign to elect State Representative Sara Feigenholtz Read more...
Obama's Speech: A Health Care Milestone (Video)
Feb 24, 2009 - I just finished watching Obama's address to Congress with a group of SEIU nurses. I won't name names, but some of us have tears in our eyes right now. For us, this is a moment more than a decade in the making. When our movement started, having a president who would speak so honestly and passionately about the need to fix health care was something we dreamt about, but it was hard to imagine. Read more...
Statement of SEIU President Andy Stern on Secretary Hilda Solis
Feb 24, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement following today's bipartisan vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Hilda Solis' as the next Secretary of Labor. Read more...
VIDEO: Health Care Dominates White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit
Feb 23, 2009 - The first-ever Fiscal Responsibility Summit took place on Monday at the White House. Advisors at the highest levels of the Obama administration hosted members of Congress as well as leaders from a wide range of organizations to discuss solutions to long-term fiscal challenges facing the nation. SEIU President Andy Stern and Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger were among the attendees at the event. Read more...
VIDEO: My First Week in Washington DC with SEIU
Feb 20, 2009 - I've always been impressed with our nation's capitol. The huge buildings, sweeping landscapes, and grand stone staircases - it's all so big, it makes me a little disoriented and, gulp, small. But all those buildings are filled with people. And if there's anything I've learned as a nurse - people are people. We all eat and sleep and want to make the world a better place. Read more...
VIDEO: MSNBC Exposes Source of Health IT Smears
Feb 13, 2009 - Your efforts to uncover the misinformation campaign against health IT are gaining major traction in the mainstream media. MSNBC dug further into the smear tactics being used against health IT on last night's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann." Read more...
SEIU Urges Full Senate Vote On Rep. Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor
Feb 11, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement on the importance of today's vote by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Representative Hilda Solis' nomination as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Read more...
SEIU Urges Full Senate Vote On Rep. Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor (Press Release)
Feb 11, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement on the importance of today's vote by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Representative Hilda Solis' nomination as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Read more...
Caregivers Defend Health IT
Feb 11, 2009 - Yesterday, we told you about Rush Limbaugh's rant against the measures to improve health IT in the Economic Recovery Act. Normally, Rush goes largely unnoticed by most of the general public. But his irresponsible comments about health IT have hit... Read more...
Sign Our Petition in Support of Solis' Nomination for Labor Secretary
Feb 11, 2009 - Can you believe it? President Obama nominated a pro-working family Secretary of Labor! How novel. But for some conservatives in the Senate, the prospect is too much to handle. Read more...
Watch the Senate Banking Committee Hearing on TARP Oversight
Feb 11, 2009 - A group of SEIU members are on the Hill this morning, calling on Congress to prevent companies that are receiving massive taxpayer subsidies from spending money on lobbying that may pit their corporate interests, and the interests of highly compensated CEOs, against taxpayers' interests. Watch the C-SPAN hearing live as these CEOS are called on by Congress to account for the taxpayer money they've received. Read more...
Limbaugh Doesn't Get IT
Feb 10, 2009 - Health care professionals nationwide are writing to their newspapers today to refute claims by Rush Limbaugh on two provisions in the stimulus package: comparative effectiveness research and health IT. Both are designed to provide health care professionals with objective, up-to-date information on treatments, tests and procedures available to them. Read more...
Statement of SEIU President Andy Stern on Rep. Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor
Feb 05, 2009 - SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement on Representative Hilda Solis' nomination as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Read more...
Member Testimony: It happened to me, and it can happen to you too
Feb 05, 2009 - You never think that it could happen to you, but in today's economy it's getting harder and harder to know who's got your back. That's why today I'm in Washington D.C. lobbying my U.S. Senators and urging them to vote for the Economic Recovery Act, which will provide the emergency financial help our states need so they won't have to balance the budget on the backs of workers. Read more...
Thousands of Workers to Deliver 1.5 Million Petitions to Congress Supporting Employee Free Choice
Feb 04, 2009 - SEIU members, workers from other unions, Rep. George Miller, and Sen. Tom Harkin will join workers today in delivering 1.5 million post cards supporting the Employee Free Choice Act to Senators and other lawmakers. Read more...
Senator Daschle's Resignation
Feb 03, 2009 - Sen. Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination today for Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a statement released by the White House, Sen. Daschle stated: "If 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction. Right now, I am not that leader." Read more...
Our Early Victory: By The Numbers
Feb 02, 2009 - Last week's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program was touted by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers as an important first step to fix health care. It was our first glimpse of what happens when both parties come together around improving access to quality care. Read more...
On Heels of Senate SCHIP Vote, SEIU Calls On Congress to Keep Rebuilding the American Dream
Jan 29, 2009 - Today, Congress took a first and important step to rebuilding the American Dream," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Senators from both parties worked together to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). "We applaud the Senate for strengthening the children's health insurance program and ensuring no child must wait for care." Read more...
Our Job Is Just Beginning
Jan 29, 2009 - "Four Million Down, 40 Million to Go:" After three days of debate on a series of amendments to the bill, the Senate passed the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program on Jan. 29. This program will ensure that millions of children, many of whose parents have lost their employer-provided health care coverage through layoffs and cutbacks, will be able to receive doctor check-ups, dentist visits, and preventive care. Read more...
Online Activist Report: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization
Jan 15, 2009 - Yesterday, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 passed by an overwhelming margin. If you want to see how your representative voted, click here to see the vote report by state, as well as a breakdown of your online efforts through SEIU.org to get connected to your representative. Read more...
On Heels of Strong Bipartisan House Vote, SEIU Urges Senate to Vote Yes for Children's Health and Pass SCHIP
Jan 14, 2009 - "There is no time to waste. Strengthening the children's health insurance program offers a lifeline to families struggling to survive during this unprecedented economic downturn," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Democrats and Republicans came together in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Read more...
New Poll Shows Widespread Support for SCHIP Expansion to Cover Legal Immigrant Children
Dec 23, 2008 - Encouraging news from a poll released yesterday, which shows that more than two-thirds of the public (82 percent) supports SCHIP renewal and for extending children's health benefits to legal immigrant children. Read more...
Here We Go Again
Nov 25, 2008 - You can hear the jaws dropping as people read James Pethokoukis' latest piece on health care in U.S. News' Capital Commerce blog. Pethokoukis takes partisan politics to a new level by urging Republicans to block any efforts by Obama (or any other Democrat) to fix health care. Read more...
Watch Now: Andy Stern Brings Your Voice to Congress
Nov 20, 2008 - Pointing to the combined impact of the health care and economic crises on the lives of working families nationwide, SEIU President Andy Stern called on President-Elect Barack Obama and key leaders in Washington yesterday to work together to address the nation's ailing health care system in the short-term. Read more...
Former Senator Daschle to be Nominated for HHS Secretary
Nov 20, 2008 - Multiple news sources, including NBC News, are reporting that Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-ND) "has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services," and will therefore be nominated to the position. In that role, Daschle would be in charge of the FDA, Medicare and Medicaid, among other programs. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Mark Begich on His Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 19, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, this morning extend their congratulations to Mark Begich on his election to the U.S. Senate. SEIU made 68,279 calls in support of Begich and look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress. Read more...
Help SEIU President Andy Stern Bring Your Story to Capitol Hill at Senate Hearing on Health Care Reform Tomorrow
Nov 18, 2008 - Yesterday afternoon, SEIU International President Andy Stern sent out an email to healthcare activists asking for input on the testimony he will be offering on the combined impact of the health care and economic crisis on working families at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance at 10:00 a.m. tomrorow, November 19. Read more...
Help Andy Stern Bring Your Testimony to Congress to Fix Health Care NOW
Nov 18, 2008 - With pressure building to address the nation's ailing health care system, SEIU International President Andy Stern will offer testimony on the combined impact of the health care and economic crisis on working families and call for comprehensive health care reform at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 19. Read more...
A Blueprint And A Call To Action For The Nation's Ailing Healthcare System
Nov 15, 2008 - "One week since the historic election that brought a sea change of hope and energy to our country, we're already getting a clear picture of what to expect from new leadership in Washington in 2009," writes SEIU Healthcare Chairman Dennis Rivera today on The Hill's Congress blog. Read more...
SEIU, Coalition Partners Urge Health Care Overhaul
Nov 13, 2008 - SEIU and its Divided We Fail partners AARP, the Business Roundtable and the National Federation of Independent Businesses published an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama in USA Today this week, calling for comprehensive healthcare reform in the new administration's... Read more...
SEIU Supports New Blueprint to Solve Health Care Crisis by Senator Max Baucus
Nov 12, 2008 - SEIU issued a statement in support of the diagnosis of and prescription for mending our broken health care system released today by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the chairman of the Finance Committee. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Jeff Merkley on His Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 06, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Jeff Merkley on his election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Gary Peters on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Gary Peters for his election to the U.S. House from Michigan's 9th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Steve Driehaus on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Steve Driehaus for his election to the U.S. House from Ohio's 1st Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Betsy Markey on Her Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Betsy Markey for her election to the U.S. House from Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Mark Schauer on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Mark Schauer for his election to the U.S. House from Michigan's 7th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Glenn Nye on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Glenn Nye for his election to the U.S. House from Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Travis Childers on His Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Travis Childers for his reelection to the U.S. House from Mississippi's 1st Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Christine Gregoire on Her Re-Election as Governor of Washington
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Governor Christine Gregoire on her re-election as Governor of state of Washington. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Jim Himes on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Jim Himes for his election to the U.S. House from Connecticut's 4th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Joe Courtney on His Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Joe Courtney for his reelection to the U.S. House from Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Max Baucus on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Max Baucus on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Donna Edwards on Her Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 05, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Donna Edwards for her reelection to the U.S. House from Maryland's 4th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Gerry Connelly on His Election to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Gerry Connelly for his election to the U.S. House from Virginia's 11th Congressional District. Read more...
Latinos Make Election History, Deliver Victory For Obama From CO to FL
Nov 04, 2008 - Today in battleground states from Colorado to Florida to Virginia, a record number of Latino voters made history, voting overwhelmingly to put President-Elect Barack Obama in the White House. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Andre Carson on His Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Andre Carson for his reelection to the U.S. House from Indiana's 7th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Tom Harkin on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator Tom Harkin on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Mark Udall on His Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Mark Udall on his election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Nikki Tsongas on Her Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Nikki Tsongas for her reelection to the U.S. House from Massachusetts's 5th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Bill Foster on His Reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, the Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Bill Foster for his reelection to the U.S. House from Illinois 14th Congressional District. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Mike Enzi on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator Mike Enzi on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Tim Johnson on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator Tim Johnson on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Jack Reed on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator Jack Reed on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Carl Levin on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator Carl Levin on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Tom Udall on His Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Tom Udall on his election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Jay Nixon on His Election as Governor of Missouri
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Jay Nixon on his election as Governor for the state of Missouri. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Kay Hagan on Her Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Kay Hagan on her election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to John Lynch on His Re-Election as Governor of New Hampshire
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Governor John Lynch on his re-election as Governor of New Hampshire. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate Jeanne Shaheen on Her Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Jeanne Shaheen on her election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Congratulate John Rockefeller on His Re-Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Senator John Rockefeller on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. Read more...
SEIU Members Extend Congratulations to Mark Warner on His Election to the U.S. Senate
Nov 04, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Mark Warner on his election to the U.S. Senate from Virginia. Read more...
SEIU Leaders Barnstorm Battleground States for Obama, Senate Candidates
Oct 31, 2008 - SEIU President Andy Stern and Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger will hit the campaign trail this weekend in a final push to win key battleground states for Barack Obama and Senate races for pro-working family candidates Al Franken in Minnesota and Jeff Merkley in Oregon. Read more...
In Final 72-Hour Push, SEIU Members Get Out The Vote for Barack Obama and Other Working Family Candidates Across the Country
Oct 31, 2008 - In the final 72-hours of this campaign, more than 100,000 nurses, janitors and other volunteers across the country are joining 4,000 SEIU members, local and International staff who've taken extended time off the job to bring home victory for Barack Obama, Joe Biden and other candidates promising the change working families need. Read more...
Anna Burger to Join Governors Sebelius and Napolitano at Obama Town Hall Meetings in Indiana Monday
Oct 27, 2008 - On Monday, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger will moderate town hall meetings with Governors Kathy Sebelius of Kansas and Janet Napolitano of Arizona in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Terre Haute, Indiana for Barack Obama. Read more...
SEIU's Massive Ground Campaign for Obama, Pro-Working Family Candidates
Oct 27, 2008 - I wanted to quickly share something from this morning's USA Today piece "Groups spend millions bypassing TV, radio" by Matt Kelley: Read more...
Victory for Residents of Lake County, Indiana
Oct 22, 2008 - After weeks of court battles, Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Kavadias Schneider concluded that early voting in Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago will go on without interference - a complete victory for the thousands of residents facing challenges getting to the polls on Election Day. Read more...
SEIU Members Launch New TV Ad on Gordon Smith's Role in Digging Our Economic Hole
Oct 22, 2008 - Today, SEIU announced a new television ad, titled "Hole," that will air on cable and broadcast across most of Oregon through the end of October. Read more...
SEIU Members Launch New TV Ad On Sununu's Support For Bush's Economic Policies
Oct 22, 2008 - Today, SEIU announced a new television ad, titled "Register," that will air statewide on cable and broadcast throughout New Hampshire. The ad highlights John Sununu's record of support for George W. Bush's economic policies that helped to create America's current economic crisis. Read more...
So... Now What?
Oct 03, 2008 - Written by SEIU International President Andy Stern Let's face it: the Bailout Bill doesn't get to the heart of what's wrong with our economy. Neither you, nor I, nor many of those who voted for it believe that this bill... Read more...
Statement of SEIU President Andy Stern RE: Expected Senate Approval of Wall Street Bailout
Oct 01, 2008 - With the U.S. Senate poised to approve a bailout plan for Wall Street tonight, Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), expressed disappointment that Congress appeared ready to pass up an opportunity to address the economic concerns facing millions of American families Read more...
Congresswoman Drake's Record of Voting Against Healthcare
Oct 01, 2008 - Today, Virginia Congresswoman Thelma Drake held a press conference accusing SEIU of distorting the facts about her record in a recently released television ad. Read more...
NEW SEIU TELEVISION AD: Thelma Drake Is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong For Virginia"
Sep 30, 2008 - A new television ad by SEIU details the multiple votes Congresswoman Thelma Drake has cast against improving health care for our nation's veterans, making the case that she is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong for Virginia." Read more...
NEW SEIU TELEVISION AD: Thelma Drake Is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong For Virginia"
Sep 30, 2008 - A new television ad by SEIU details the multiple votes Congresswoman Thelma Drake has cast against improving health care for our nation's veterans, making the case that she is "Wrong for Veterans, Wrong for Virginia." Read more...
Stand Up for Main Street, SEIU Tells Senators
Sep 29, 2008 - With Congress continuing to debate a bailout of Wall Street banks, Senators will hear from voters this week calling for action on the economic priorities of Main Street. The two million-member SEIU (Service Employees International Union) announced today it will make 150,000 calls this week to Senators running for reelection, criticizing them for failing to take action on a broader stimulus package to ease the economic pain of working families. Read more...
Our Economic Recovery Plan
Sep 29, 2008 - Now that the Bush Administration's $700 billion Wall St. bailout appears to be dead, we need to have a full discussion about how to solve our economic problems. Join me in calling for a New Era for Working Families that puts the government on the side of the people. Read more...
SEIU Proposes Multibillion Cash Investment to Revive Economy, Launch New Era of Hope for Working Families
Sep 25, 2008 - With Washington moving toward a bailout of Wall Street banks, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) called for action on legislation that will launch a new era of prosperity and address the real economic concerns of America's working families. Read more...
SEIU Condemns Criminalization of Immigrant Workers and Renews the Call for Smart, Pragmatic Reform
Jul 24, 2008 - Today the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees and International Law held a hearing on the government's handling of immigration raids and criminalization of immigrant workers. Below is a statement from SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina. Read more...
Working Families, Merchants Send Joint Message to Lawmakers: Stop Credit Card Abuses Now
Jul 15, 2008 - In a groundbreaking joint effort by the nation's fastest growing union and trade associations representing merchants, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Food Marketing Institute (FMI), National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), and the National Grocers Association (NGA) sent a letter to every Member of the House of Representatives today calling on Congress to stop the nation's biggest banks and credit card companies from continuing abusive practices which harm American consumers and businesses. Read more...
Amy Dacey Named New Government Relations Director for SEIU
Jul 14, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced that it has named Amy Dacey as Government Relations Director for the nation's fastest growing union. Read more...
SEIU Members Launch TV Ad Supporting Jay Nixon's Gubernatorial Bid
Jul 14, 2008 - SEIU, the nation's largest union of health care workers, will begin airing a new television ad throughout Missouri tomorrow, supporting Jay Nixon as the best choice for Missouri voters concerned about health care. Read more...
SEIU MEMBERS CALL ON CONGRESS TO EXTEND JOBLESS BENEFITS
Jun 12, 2008 - As record gas and food prices, skyrocketing health care costs and the mortgage crisis continue to hammer the economy, SEIU's two million members today called on Congress to pass legislation extending jobless benefits. Read more...
SEIU Members Get Out Vote for Obama and Other Candidates in Oregon Primary
May 20, 2008 - SEIU members across Oregon are working hard to close the Democratic nomination today for Barack Obama and turn out the vote for U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley, Attorney General candidate John Kroger, Portland Mayoral candidate Sam Adams and other state and local candidates. With more than 50,000 members, SEIU is the largest union in the state. Read more...
Advocates Call for Congress to Stand Up to Profit-Hungry Nursing Homes and Protect Seniors
May 15, 2008 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union testified before Chairman Stupak's (D-MI-1) House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee today, calling for Congress to stand up to the powerful and profit-hungry nursing home industry and pass legislation that would improve the quality of care by ensuring that residents and taxpayers know who owns nursing homes, who is responsible for care at them, and how taxpayer funds are being used. Read more...
1199 SEIU Joins Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to Announce New Home New Home Healthcare Initiative for the City's Elderly Public Housing Residents
May 12, 2008 - 1199 SEIU today joined Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez in unveiling new congressional legislation to improve home healthcare services for the City's elderly public housing residents. Congresswoman Velazquez made the announcement at a Lower East Side residential development for seniors. Read more...
SEIU Members to Politicians: Live Up to Your Promises Or We Will Hold You Accountable
May 08, 2008 - Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union say they will hold elected leaders strictly accountable if they say one thing before an election and then do something else. Read more...
SEIU Warns of the Disastrous Impact on All Working People and Renews the Call for Smart, Pragmatic Reform
May 06, 2008 - Today the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security convened a hearing on the employer verification system proposed in the Shuler/Tancredo Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. In response, SEIU issued a formal statement before the subcommittee, and SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina issued the following statement: Read more...
STATEMENT OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION TO U.S. House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee ON THE SECURE AMERICA THROUGH VERIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT
May 06, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is strongly opposed to The Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act ("SAVE Act,"HR 4088). We are particularly concerned about the cost of the Act to the federal government and the burden that it will place on many American workers and those legally authorized to work in the United States. Read more...
SEIU Members Engage in Aggressive GOTV Campaign in Indiana
Apr 30, 2008 - With less than a week to go before Indiana's Democratic Primary on Tuesday, May 6, SEIU members are stepping up their efforts on behalf of Senator Obama for President. Starting today, SEIU will be up on the air statewide urging voters to support Barack Obama on May 6. The ad is part of an extensive campaign that SEIU members are waging to get out the vote for Obama in the remaining days before the primary. Read more...
Congress Must Not Hedge on Health Care Reform
Apr 24, 2008 - SEIU members and leaders responded strongly to statements by congressional Democrats that health care reform is unlikely in the new Congress. Read more...
DURBIN, SNOWE, LINCOLN & COLEMAN ALONG WITH NFIB, NAR & SEIU Introduce Affordable Health INSURANCE Plan for Small Businesses
Apr 02, 2008 - Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) introduced breakthrough legislation designed to make insurance more available and affordable for the 47.1 million employees of the nation's 5.8 million small businesses and for 14.1 million self-employed individuals. Read more...
Statement on the Cancellation of Consumer Testimony at the House Financial Services Consumer Credit Hearing
Mar 13, 2008 - The following statement was released today by SEIU, Consumers Union, USPIRG, Consumer Federation of America, and Consumer Action on the cancellation of consumer testimony at the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit hearing: Read more...
SEIU Members Help Turn Out the Vote in Important Foster Win in Illinois
Mar 08, 2008 - SEIU members and working families across Illinois are celebrating Bill Foster's win in Saturday's special election in the 14th congressional district. With more than 5,000 members in the district, SEIU engaged in an extensive voter mobilization effort in support of Foster. Read more...
SEIU Members Help Make the Difference in Historic Win for Donna Edwards
Feb 13, 2008 - In a major victory for working people, Donna Edwards defeated longtime incumbent Al Wynn in the Democratic primary to represent Maryland's fourth congressional district. Read more...
Eliseo Medina Testimony on Naturalization Backlog Before House Judiciary Subcommittee
Jan 17, 2008 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), on behalf of its more than 1.9 million members, thanks the U.S House of Representatives Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law for holding this hearing. Read more...
SEIU Lays Out Measures to Reduce Naturalization Backlog and Help New Citizens Vote in 2008
Jan 17, 2008 - "If the Bush administration truly believes America is stronger and more dynamic when new citizens are welcomed, it will make sure that USCIS processes the hundreds of thousands of citizenship applications trapped in a snarl of red tape and government bureaucracy,"said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina, upon submitting testimony to the House Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law on how to reduce the naturalization backlog that may block hundreds of thousands of citizenship applicants from voting in the 2008 Elections. Read more...
Congressional Leaders Schedule Hearings on Quality of Nursing Home Care
Nov 14, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union applauded Congressional leaders for scheduling hearings on growing problems with nursing homes. Chairman Pete Stark's (D-CA-13) House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will examine the effects of nursing home ownership on the quality of care, especially in light of Carlyle Group's takeover of Manor Care. Read more...
Congressional Leaders Schedule Hearings on Quality of Nursing Home Care
Nov 08, 2007 - The nation's largest healthcare workers' union applauded Congressional leaders for scheduling hearings on growing problems with nursing homes. Chairman Pete Stark's (D-CA-13) House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee will examine the effects of nursing home ownership on the quality of care, especially in light of Carlyle Group's takeover of Manor Care. Read more...
Rangel Tax Reform Package Would Bring More Balance, Fairness
Oct 29, 2007 - America's tax system should reward hard work. Americans expect our tax system to encourage saving, and benefit the majority of Americans. Unfortunately, today's tax laws favor the wealthy. Working Americans without expensive lobbyists and tax lawyers see a system with loopholes, schemes, dodges, and intricate rules that benefit those who least need it. These loopholes and schemes raise the tax burden of working people and undercut vital public services. Read more...
SEIU Leaders Applaud House Passage of Children's Healthcare, Warn Bush Against Veto
Oct 26, 2007 - Leaders of the largest healthcare union in the nation today celebrated the House passage of SCHIP legislation that would provide health coverage for nearly 10 million uninsured children, and expressing outrage at President Bush's threat to once again veto the bill. Read more...
Health Care Plays Key Role in Tsongas's Win
Oct 16, 2007 - "Tonight's win for Niki Tsongas isn't just a victory for voters in Massachusetts, it's a win for working families across the country,"said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "Voters in Massachusetts are not only sending a strong health care advocate to Washington, they're doing it just in time for her to cast a vote for a critically needed program." Read more...
Statement from Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare Regarding Bush's Veto of Children's Healthcare
Oct 03, 2007 - Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare, the nation's largest union of health care workers, today issued the following statement regarding President Bush's veto of the bipartisan SCHIP legislation: Read more...
Nation's Largest Healthcare Workers Union Calls for Congressional Hearings into Private Equity Ownership of Nursing Homes
Oct 02, 2007 - Concerned that the trend toward private equity ownership of nursing homes is diverting taxpayer money to enriching top executives and buyout firms at the expense of quality care, the nation's largest healthcare workers union is calling on Congress to take action to improve the quality of care, and hold private equity firms accountable for their ownership of nursing homes. Read more...
Kennedy Joins Children, SEIU Healthcare Workers to Deliver Message to Bush: One Million Americans Support Healthcare For 10 Million Kids
Oct 01, 2007 - Hundreds of SEIU healthcare workers, healthcare allies, and children marched to the White House today to deliver mail bags overflowing with petitions from one million Americans in support of health care for kids. Read more...
Giant Wackenhut Benefits From Small Business Act
Sep 26, 2007 - "Participation of the Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) in the Small Business Administration 8(a) program has been troubling,"according to testimony by Mr. Michael L. Barrera, President & CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, today. Read more...
SEIU Testifies Before House Judiciary Subcommittee Against Illegal USCIS Immigrant Service Fee Hike
Sep 20, 2007 - Today, Rhadames Rivera, Vice President of SEIU Healthcare Local 1199 UHE, testified before the House Subcommittee on Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law on the negative impact that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee hike will have on the union's immigrant members. Read more...
Home Care Workers to Get Fair Wages Under New Congressional Proposal
Sep 19, 2007 - The Service Employees International Union, the nation's largest healthcare union, applauded the introduction of federal legislation to close a loophole that denies home care workers overtime and minimum wage protections. Read more...
Statement Regarding Federal Reserve Decision to Forgo Public Hearing and Unilaterally Approve Bank of America-LaSalle Merger in Chicago
Sep 14, 2007 - The Save Chicago Jobs and Community Investment Coalition is extremely disappointed in the decision by the Federal Reserve to forgo a public hearing and approve the acquisition of LaSalle Bank by Bank of America today. Read more...
Testimony of SEIU President Andy Stern Before Senate Health Policy Committee
Jan 10, 2007 - Andy Stern, President of SEIU, the largest union of health care workers in North America, delivered the following testimony today before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee regarding the state of America's health care system: Read more...
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Service Employees International Union
Change to Win Federation USA | Canadian Labour Congress
1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
© SEIU | Privacy Policy