Zombie UHW pesters Memorial workers with another weak mailer

In what is sure to be one of many mailers from Zombie UHW aimed at re-winning the hearts and minds of Memorial workers, the Zombies mailed this bit of garbage. As you can see it uses the same tired and misleading arguments we've all heard since January 2009. Let's dissect this stinker, hold it up to the light and see it for what it really is: a message that came from the wrong union and came too late to make a difference for SEIU.

Who is NUHW?

The people who run NUHW were removed from office for misusing the members' dues money.

No, they were removed for not allowing the forced transfer of 65,000 homecare members from UHW to ULTCW. At the time UHW was a model local union and ULTCW was (and still is) reeling from their own corruption But the dues money used so far to negotiate sellout contracts (here, here and here) since the trusteeship began couldn't possibly be called misuse -- oh, no, no, no. Don't get me started on the fight for Fresno homecare workers, and the $10 million the Zombies spent there (at ~$3600+ per vote) to barely "win" an election, where SEIU claimed to have 5,000 -- an absolute majority of votes. Ugh, it makes me sick!

In January, NUHW leaders (then officers of SEIU-UHW) were found guilty by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall of misuing members' dues money and were removed from office. The very next day, they formed NUHW.

To me, this bit of crafty wording seems to imply that Secretary Marshall removed them from office, which is outside his authority reach or interest. Also, page 96 of Marshall's report states: " [...] I do not recommend imposing a trusteeship on these grounds at this time because these actions were merely symptoms of the basic underlying cause of the conflict between UHW and the International Union–the jurisdictional conflict over long-term care workers."

Once the leaders of the pre-trusteeship leaders of UHW realized that Rosselli's proclamation stating democracy "democracy dies in the darkness" had come true and UHW by extension and SEIU was a sinking ship, they headed for higher grounds.

What Did the NUHW Leaders Do Wrong? 

Since their removal from office, union members have found out that NUHW leaders:

• Transferred $3 million in members' dues money to a bogus non-profit for their own use.

 This should in no way be confused with the blatant misuse of dues money perpetrated by Tyrone Freeman one of SEIU International President Andy Stern's appointed (NOT elected) local leaders. Also, setting up a mechanism for defending itself from the tyranny of SEIU International can only considered wrong

• Stole thousands of dollars of union property and destroyed files needed to protect workers against management.

This is an unsubstantiated allegation. Assuming it happened you'd think it would have been extensively publicized.

• Left thousands of workers without union protection in the middle of the worst economic crisis of our lifetime by refusing to bargain more than 100 contracts and canceling extensions of dozens more.

Not like, say, the 50,000+ Kaiser Permanente members who had their futures and livelihoods sold down the river by Zombie UHW (as shown here, here and here) or the  4700+ Sonoma county homecare workers who had their fate sealed for the next 2 years.

What does the future hold for NUHW?

NUHW leaders will soon be going on trial in Federal Court.

Going to court does not mean a guaranteed guilty verdict.

In July, U.S district Judge William issued a preliminary injunction against NUHW leaders finding that they participated in a "broad-based scheme to take and destroy UHW property and information" contrary to the interests of the union members they once represented.

Who is saying the quoted phrase? It doesn't matter: one way it's an unsubstantiated allegation the other way it's a just nonsensical fear mongering.

Granted, in order to prevent the wholesale loss of faith and interest of its members worldwide SEIU has to
fight NUHW's advances but they could at least change their message to maintain appeal and relevance, unless of course they have nothing left to say.

When dealing with SEIU it's good to know we're not alone

Not a whole lot of explanation needed here folks, just watch and learn about how not only Sonoma county homecare workers but also the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors are horrified about SEIU's recent rigged  contract ratification. Normally, labor and management and laborers are opposed but here is a rare example of labor AND management telling the union it's actions and treatment of it's members is reprehensible.

CDCAN: Townhall Telemeeting on IHSS Budget Cuts, Oct 21 Wed 1 to 2:45 PM

Here's an except from CDCAN's (California Disability Community Action Network) latest email. Sorry about the short notice I just received the email an hour ago. If you can make the time, call tomorrow and let the State know how you feel about the Draconian cuts to IHSS consumers' (clients') hours as a means of balancing the State budget.

CALIFORNIA BUDGET CRISIS

CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting Wed at 1 PM

Focus on IHSS Budget Cuts – Lawsuit Update

Also This Week: Medi-Cal Optional Benefits Federal Lawsuit Filed By Medicaid Defense Fund Will Be Heard Oct 22 At 11 AM in SF Before 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 10/20/09  09:59 AM  (Pacific Time)  - In the wake of a federal court ruling yesterday that stopped major cuts to In-Home Supportive Services that used little known assessment tools as a means to narrow eligibility and reduce services, a CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (October 21) from 1:00 PM to 2:45 PM featuring representatives and advocates for people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, and support workers to provide updates to that lawsuit, and also updates on other cuts and policy changes to IHSS that still remain. 

The free townhall telemeetings, since 2003,  have been a regular way for people who cannot easily leave their communities or homes due to health needs, supports, resources, transportation, to participate in public policymaking, to hear policymakers and others and to ask questions directly.  The townhall telemeetings can be accessed from any phone line, or by going to a participating local site that is dialing in. 

Depending on availability, someone from the legal team that represented IHSS recipients and workers in the lawsuit that stopped the IHSS budget reductions yesterday, may be on the townhall telemeeting to provide an update on the lawsuit.

CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING

OCTOBER 21, 2009 – WEDNESDAY  1:00 – 2:45 PM

TOLL FREE LINE:  877-551-8082   (no passcode)

 

Guest Speakers:

·         Lisa Barrows, Community Resource Coordinator, and Melanie Bazile, executive director -  STEP (Strategies To Empower People) a Sacramento based independent and supported living services organization

·         Deborah Doctor of Disability Rights California (formerly Protection and Advocacy Inc or PAI) and possibly someone from the legal team including Melinda Bird. 

·         Anne Guerra, executive director of the Nevada Sierra IHSS Public Authority (covers Nevada, Sierra and Plumas counties)

·         Janet Heinritz-Canterbury of the Los Angeles County Personal Assistance Services Council (IHSS Public Authority)

·         Christal Hopkins, disability advocate and IHSS recipient

·         Karen Keeslar, advocate and also representing United Domestic Workers, one of the unions representing IHSS workers

·         Debra Roth (or possibly Loretta Stevens), with SEIU, one of the unions representing IHSS workers

·         John Wilkins, disability rights advocate and IHSS recipient

In case there is any doubt about Zombie UHW's plans for long term care workers?

In case you are wondering if the Zombies still plan to move long term care workers (homecare and nursing home) from crumbling UHW to the decrepit, these fine people (as seen at the 2009 UHW convention) can show you! It appears that the the UHW Zombies have distributed a few "souvenir" shirts perhaps to be used as conversation pieces among the soon-ish to be effected members.

As you may recall one of the main reasons for this disastrous trusteeship (scroll down to #4) was the decision by the SEIU to move 65,000 LTC (long term care) members out of UHW and into the scandal-plagued ULTCW --  the United Long Term Care Workers, formerly known as Local 6434, and before that Local 434B.  How scandal plagued? Well, when it comes to SEIU locals that deserve to be trusteed, ULTCW takes the cake for misuse of dues money, $9 an hour for most of it's members (that's 121,813!), and all around bad leadership. And what of their former leader you ask? He tired a brief stint as a sports agent and now has moved on to his own blog, the Blueprint for Justice, which if you search for comments no one has said a thing about his "blueprint".

UPDATE: I checked the blog on Thanksgiving morning, no comments anywhere or new entries since October 10.

Zombie UHW doesn't know what it's telling people half the time. I remember talking to SEIU liar Rebecca Malberg, who was here in California from Massachusetts for the battle in Fresno, on the steps of the State capital during the budget hearings. After putting on my dumb-homecare-worker mask I asked her what UHW was going to do with homecare workers when this pesky trusteeship and battle with NUHW was over. Would we be reassigned to ULTCW? She said that was absolutely not the case, and then went on to tell me that was exactly what UHW was going to do, all in the same breath!

Cut in homecare funding still set for November 1

That's right folks, despite Federal District Court Judge Claudia Wilken's restraining order on Wednesday, October 14, cuts to homecare are expected to take affect on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Check out the coments section of the SacBee (Sacramento Bee) to see the scathing public contempt for the IT contractor that can't back out the changes in a timely manor.

Union vote at Santa Rosa at Memorial hospital

Listen to KRCB-FM's take on the union vote at Santa Rosa Memorial hospital. Pay close attention to the political theater of Shirlee Zane, Sonoma County Supervisor, 3rd District. She says all the right things. This will come in handy when I post some of her comments from the September 24, 2009 Board of Supervisors meeting.

KSRO's "The Drive" hour dedicated to Santa Rosa Memorial workers

Hear from 2 Santa Rosa Memorial workers and 1 woefully under informed SEIU cheerleader about the struggle in organizing Sonoma County's only non-union hospital.

Homecare workers reject SEIU secret contract

After the ratification vote but before the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (BoS) rubber stamped the fraudulent contract ratification, some UHW propaganda resistant homecare workers plead with the BoS to hold off their approval until a fair ratification was held.

Sadly, the BoS held fast to their assertion that they bargained a great contract. Although they were outraged at the actions of SEIU staff and the bargaining team members, they felt their hands were tied.

Sonoma County homecare workers sound off about about secret contract ratification

Here are the few Sonoma county homecare workers who won't let themselves be blindsided by SEIU's secretive bargaining. You can see what were up against!

 

Discussion: The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and the Future U.S. Labor

Come to a forum to learn and discuss the future of labor. Download a flier to print and distribute to fellow healthcare workers.

Friday, November 6, 7-9pm
Plumbing &; Pipe Fiting Industry Local Union 38 ("Plumbers Union Hall")
3473 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA95407
(707) 584-4815

Here's the link in the image above: Fund for Union Democracy