http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/us/21union.html?scp=1&sq=union%20spending&st=cse
I was quoted in an Aug. 21, 2008 NY Times regarding corruption allegations at the largest union in the state of California, SEIU Local 6434, United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union. It is the second-largest local union within the fast-growing SEIU, which has more than 2 million members nationwide.
These corruption allegations, reported extensively in the LA Times, strike at the core value system of the union and carry incalculable weight. Union leaders cannot ask of others what they are unwilling to do themselves: to be selfless and work collectively to better the lives of many.
Members of Local 6434 work in a variety of long-term care settings, ranging from the private homes of long-term care recipients to institutions such as skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. These are the principal care settings comprising the long-term care ‘”safety net” in California. Individuals needing long-term care have varying degrees of difficulty performing some activities of daily living without assistance, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, housekeeping, managing finances and moving from one location to another.
I served as a consultant to SEIU and a labor-management committee called California United for Nursing Home Care (CUNHC). One of my proudest professional accomplishments was directing a two-year campaign mobilizing thousands of nursing home workers, skilled nursing facilities, senior advocates and clergy across California resulting in Governor Schwarzenegger signing into law legislation drawing down over $1 billion in federal funding to improve long-term care for the frail elderly and people with disabilities.
I visited dozens of California nursing homes and private homes where long-term care workers provide vital care services to the frail elderly and people with disabilities. I was struck by the selfless nature of long-term care workers. They speak movingly about their pride in being conscientious healthcare professionals. Respect for their work was more important than wages earned.
Many of my close colleagues and friends from BOTH major political parties simply don’t like or respect unions. I understand this anger but consistently challenge their predispositions. As I told the NY Times, reports of nepotism and lavish spending at Local 6434 smack of hypocrisy. Nevertheless, if governed transparently and democratically, unions can be a force for positive change, including improving the quality of employment for its members.
Americans do have a low opinion of unions — based largely on a perceived lack of accountability and transparency — but most Americans support paying long-term care workers a livable wage. I agree that forming a union may not be the optimal choice for every class of worker; however, I do believe that employees must have the right to decide for themselves whether to unionize.
SEIU is having a fierce internal debate about the future vision and structure of the union, including a plan pushed by President Andy Stern to create nationwide bargaining councils to better deal with large employers. There is some merit to this plan. However, instead of squandering resources on a visceral internal battle, SEIU should engage in a reasoned debate involving members and seek genuine input from close community allies about how to implement a future vision.
SEIU is a progressive union, a leader in offering new ideas and a fresh voice in the labor movement. But it does a poor job of communicating its value proposition to large segments of the population. This must change. Too often, SEIU lives campaign-to-campaign, often abandoning friends and allies who were supportive of winning a wage increases or legislative changes.
It would be an injustice to allow these revelations to hurt the people and programs that need strong leadership from SEIU. The need for long-term care is tremendous; with six out of every 10 Americans who reach age 65 needing long-term care services. More than five million Californians need long-term care services, and, of these, some 460,000 rely on paid direct care workers for various forms of daily assistance.
Last week I attended the funeral service of a dear friend, Joan Lee. Joan Lee was one of the most principled human beings I have ever known. She was a tireless advocate for seniors and people with disabilities. But she was equally committed to helping long-term care workers and SEIU in particular. She loved the workers and told them so. She lived a full life but her passing leaves a tremendous void. I am blessed to have known and worked with her.
I admired Joan and frequently looked to her for moral guidance which is why I mention her in this post. She and I worked very closely on the successful campaign to reform nursing home care through the passage of AB 1629. Support from Joan, as well as from the Congress of California Seniors, Older Women’s League and California Alliance for Retired Americans was crucial to passing AB 1629.
Joan had the unique ability to combine passion and policy. She also had a moral compass I looked to as a guide. Joan in her own very unique way let you know when you went astray. And she was always right.
At her funeral service, allegations of corruption at Local 6434 came up in the course of conversations. What struck me is what a long-time, pro-labor senior advocate said to me about the disturbing revelations. The person said that “we look to labor” to be a moral authority and that reports surfacing were deeply disturbing. Funny, I thought to myself, I always looked to these advocates for moral guidance.
SEIU can still thrive despite this crisis of consciousness but unless it moves swiftly, transparently and democratically to elect an authentic leadership, it risks deeper damage.
An even bigger threat is the erosion of moral authority it needs to win the hearts and minds of its members and the public.
