SBPEA Warns Members about SEIU

March 12, 2014

Loco 221 found this posted on the union website of the SBPEA on March 12, 2014. SBPEA is the San Bernardino County workers union. Yup, they talk about the union elections that were thrown out a few weeks ago at SEIU 221. We know that union websites often change out their articles, and sometimes don’t preserve public access to the older posts. So, we thought posterity would like it if we captured this gem for all time. Obviously, unions all over the place, especially our neighbors here in Southern California, are falling off their chairs laughing about SEIU, especially SEIU Local 221. Of course, it is sad really, that many of the most downtrodden workers, many thousands of clerical workers for example, are stuck in SEIU right now, and getting shafted not only by their employers, but by their union too.

Maybe people at SBPEA are right though, about the chances that the new Association of San Diego County Employees (ASDCE) will replace SEIU as the union representing most of the San Diego County workers, come 2015. Why? Because starting in October of 2015 there will be a whole two year period when it is legal for workers there to file petitions to have the state run elections to dump SEIU and switch to ASDCE (or any other union). With the 2013-2017 SEIU contracts with the County of San Diego pushing workers there farther and farther down each year (pay raises are less than yearly inflation rates) and with the contract vote in 2013 turning out to be a text-book “bums rush” based on lies, and not even allowing many worksites to know about the contract vote in time to vote, many San Diego SEIU members already wish it was 2015.

So, here’s what the SBPEA website looked like when Loco 221 staff stumbled onto it on March 12 (and yes, if you go to their site now at http://www.sbpea.com/ you will see even more loving words about SEIU)  :

 San Bernardino PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION

Representing Public Employees for over 75 years

HOME | BENEFITS | EVENTS | TICKET INFO. | THE VOICE | ABOUT US | CONTRACTS

SEIU continues to try and gain SBPEA membership.

Things you should know about SEIU…

Democracy – SEIU style On February 5, 2014, the recent election of union officers and council members for SEIU Local 221 were nullified.  SEIU Local 221 represents 9,200 San Diego County employees. Although 4,500 county workers are full members of SEIU and eligible to vote, only forty-one (41) actually voted.  Yes, only 41. Rather than a mail ballot, SEIU set up ballot boxes. Trouble was that there were only 5 polling locations, no polls at worksites, only one day for voting, and very limited hours to vote. As you can tell, SEIU is not member owned or member operated. Although the dues are about the same as agency fees, approximately one-half of the employees do not even want to belong to SEIU. In San Diego County, SEIU is a four-letter word.

Independents v. SEIU SEIU has been losing more members every year than the number of new members recruited. These losses are mostly to independent associations with lower dues. Independent associations, such as SBPEA, do not pay money to an International Union in the form of per capita taxes. Recent Examples: By a wide margin, the County of San Diego’s Construction, Maintenance, Operations and Repair Unit voted last year to decertify SEIU and to certify the new independent union, the Association of San Diego County Employees (ASDCE). (Many believe ASDCE will replace SEIU in San Diego in two years.) Employees of the Coachella Valley Water District voted to pull out of SEIU and form their own labor association. In a vote last year, about 90% of the employees who have been represented by SEIU 721 voted to form the new Coachella Valley Water District Employee Association, to elect officers their own officers and hold regular meetings through the independent association. In a landslide victory, the City of Chico Classified, Technical and Professional employees unit voted to get rid of SEIU and recognize the newly formed Chico Employees Association as their new representative. Employees of Riverside County have contacted SBPEA to help them form their own independent association or join with SBPEA. Both Riverside and San Diego County employees now regret ever losing their independence to SEIU.

SEIU LEADERSHIP Last year, SEIU President Tyrone Freeman was found guilty sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his low-income members to finance an expensive lifestyle that included being married to two women at the same time. Alejandro Stephens, the head of SEIU, Local 660 in Los Angeles, was previously sentenced to four months in prison and three months of home confinement. Stephens defrauded a nonprofit organization called the Voter Improvement Project out of $52,000, which he used to launch his union reelection campaign. In a plea bargain, Stephens pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion for his failure to report the stolen money. Local 660 was then merged into Local 721.

The good news is that with so many SEIU representatives behind bars, SEIU has been able to organize the Prison License Plate Workers, Local OMG CYA.

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Prepare to Be Accosted! There are organizers from SEIU in Los Angeles roaming about the County and Courts parking lots, buildings, and visiting your homes wanting you to sign up with them so they can be your union. SEIU organizers are telling employees to vote “NO” on any agreement. They don’t care what’s in it, they want people to vote “NO” because they think it gives them an opportunity to take over. Now that’s a union that really cares about employees, isn’t it? Nationally, SEIU has been losing more members every year than the number of new members recruited. And SEIU Bylaws say that 20% of the locals’ budgets must be spent on organizing. Organizers will tell you anything to coerce you into signing a card because they are organizers, not labor representatives, and their jobs depend on getting cards signed. They say SBPEA is not a union – WRONG! They say SBPEA staff members are County employees – WRONG! They say SEIU is a Democratic union – WRONG! They say that you are without a contract – WRONG! They say their members are happy – WRONG! Just ask employees in Riverside and San Diego counties who are dumping SEIU. You do not have to talk to them. You do not have to take anything from them. More importantly, don’t sign anything because these organizers truly don’t know what they’re talking about. More to come…

Written by loco221 Posted in Uncategorized