County OKs contentious contract with SEIU in-home health care workers
By D. Ashley Furness, Business Journal Staff Reporter
SANTA ROSA — The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors renewed a contract impacting thousands of Service Employees International Union in-home care workers this morning, despite claims that organizers inappropriately barred some members from voting for representation.
A group of in-home support services workers staged a protest on administration steps this afternoon opposing the three-year memorandum, which goes into effect Thursday. Several supervisors expressed concerns with the union during a public meeting this morning, but the board unanimously approved the agreement.
According to protesters during the 1:30 p.m. gathering, the union for the first time this year did not allow members to send ballots through the mail and did not provide a copy of the contract. Voting was limited to polling locations at difficult times and places and it was also charged a security guard was hired to “block” workers known to oppose the union, according to protesters.
“The Service Employees International Union is testing the integrity of this Board of Supervisors,” in-home worker Marie White said. “They want [the board] to approve fraud.”
Union representative Shareefa Joseph confirmed the change in voting process before a 2 p.m. public hearing at county offices this afternoon, but said it was made to increase transparency in the process. The union official called the workers’ claims “unscrupulous” and that all Sonoma County in-home caretakers were provided a copy of the contract and 90 percent voted. The protestors claimed only 400 of about 3,800 were actually able to cast a ballot.
In a related county contract also approved Tuesday morning, a pay reduction and the elimination of one position were implemented for public authority managers of the home-care program.
The changes come in then wake of statewide cuts to the program totaling about $38 million this fiscal year.
The county has contracted with the union for the program since 2001.
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by debbie
yes seiu does block workers from voting they blocked us today at kaiser in modesto they would not even let us vote who we wanted to bargain for us threats and lies that is all seiu is good for
by Mystery Meat
SEIU should be investigated under the RICO statute. SEIU president Andy Stern, is on the board of directors of ACORN, another corrupt organization. SEIU cares nothing about democracy, only political power. They are marxists who are trying to eliminate the secret ballot for union elections. They support Card Check.
by Patricia Hardwick
Only caregivers who work enough hours could vote or recieve a contract. But the effects of the contract put into effect will affect us all. I did not see a contract, I was not informed of the voting places because I am on medical leave for 3 months. I resent SEIU-UHW trying to take over and undermine all our efforts to get a livable wage in Sonoma. I am disheartened and saddened by the few people who were suffering hardships that SEIU placed to be our contract negotiators. Some of them recievedfinancial coucitation help or were given wages in exchange for their participation as the contract negotiators. I wanted a chance to vote for NUHW to be our advisors and a shot at a real contract. I do not accept what has gone down and will fight it. WE are the Union, SEIU reps are someone we hired and now need to fire. Lets vote on that.
by CW
SEIU did not and refused to supply a copy of the contract. They stated that if we had been deceived the contract would not be valid. We were given a flier that said nothing but were told that was the only changes to the contract. They should be investigated, right along with their mother company ACORN.
by Wiley
I guess Marxist is less insulting than banker nowadays. Ironically SEIU is being bashed for both being Marxist and negotiating against the workers’ best interest. I see a slight contradiction here.