Andy Stern: Difference between revisions

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Line 27: Currently, Stern is involved in a controversy over the future direction of SEIU, because he believes that union density (the percentage of the workforce covered by collective bargaining contracts) should be the primary goal of SEIU - getting more workers organized into SEIU.<ref>National Review article http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MmI0YWQ3MDgzYzNkODU1OTc0ZjE1Y2UwOTYwYmRjZTM=</ref> But critics of this perspective argue that Stern's method of doing this are undemocratic.<ref>SF Bay Guardian story http://www.sfbayguardian.com/printable_entry.php?entry_id=6161</ref> They point to the proposed terms of the new contracts - 20-year deals that forbid striking and allow grievances and arbitrations only over terminations (excluding wage rates, hours, working conditions, leave time, sexual harassment, etc). [[SEIU United Healthcare Workers West]] (UHW West) is a large (150,000 member) local union based in [[Oakland, California]] and led by [[Sal Rosselli]]. In August 2008, the international union announced plans for a hearing to consider putting control of UHW West in the hands of a trustee, replacing locally elected officials. The international arranged the hearing in response to: “allegations that the leadership engaged in a pattern of misconduct, financial malpractice and fraud involving the diversion of millions of dollars of union treasury monies.”<ref>{{Cite news \|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/seiu-lead-comprehensive-ethics-reform/story.aspx?guid={C9432178-73A5-4B44-A085-5E7610F2FE1C}&dist=hppr \|title=Press release: SEIU To Lead Comprehensive Ethics Reform Initiative \|publisher=SEIU (via Marketwatch via PR Newswire) \|date=2008-09-03 }}</ref> Most significant for critics is most workers in a bargaining unit would not get a vote on such contracts, only a few people that would be chosen to bargain for them. One union that has been very vocal about Stern's proposed changes in negotiations is [[[[SEIU UHW]]]], a California local headed by Sal Rosselli, the second largest in the country. [[SEIU UHW]] has charged Stern with wanting to dispense with union democracy in favor of fast growth that leaves union members without a voice in their workplaces and their collective bargaining contracts. The issue of union democracy is expected to a major point of contention at the SEIU convention in June 2008.<ref>See San Francisco Business Journal story http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/04/07/story15.html?b=1207540800%5E1615567</ref>