Gov. Chris Gregoire receives endorsement of 100,000 SEIU members

Gregoire’s emphasis on healthcare, early learning, and long term care benefits all Washington residents

Tacoma - Citing Governor Chris Gregoire’s record of support on quality services for all Washington residents, the 103,000 members of SEIU in Washington, including child care teachers, nurses, home care workers, public school workers, janitors, and other announced their support today for Governor Chris Gregoire.

The announcement, featuring members and presidents from all five SEIU locals in Washington, was made at Community Montessori in Tacoma.

“Governor Gregoire has worked with child care providers, teachers, directors and advocates to ensure that low-income children have access to health care and quality child care so their parents can go to work and provide for their families,” said CathyRaye Hyland, director of Community Montessori in Tacoma and member of SEIU 925. “This important work needs to continue and we need Governor Gregoire in Olympia so we can continue to make progress.”

“We are raising standards and expecting more from students, but our schools, from kindergarten to college, are taking on more responsibilities and dealing with new problems,” Arlista Holman, registrar at Auburn High School and member of SEIU 1948-PSE noted. “As a public school employee, I know Washington State needs a governor like Chris Gregoire who understands the challenges of our public schools and who will step up and exercise the leadership to improve our schools.”

“Chris Gregoire is the Healthcare Governor – she’s fought through red tape to ensure our kids have access to quality healthcare, and she recognizes how important safe staffing in our hospitals is,” Bev Barker, an RN and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW member from Swedish Medical Center said. “As a nurse, I see how Governor Gregoire’s work protects patients.”

“The difference between Chris Gregoire and Dino Rossi on long-term care issues couldn’t be greater,” said Phil Bradford, a home care worker and SEIU Healthcare 775NW member in Tacoma who works with Catholic Community Services. “Chris Gregoire has fought for increased training for caregivers, and improved quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities. They are all better off thanks to Governor Gregoire.”

“Most of our members - who are janitors, security officers and other building service workers across our state – are barely able to make ends meet. Governor Gregoire stands up for the needs of our hard working families,” said security officer and SEIU 6 member David Miles.

As Governor, Gregoire ensured health care coverage for 84,000 new children and 17,000 adults and established the goal of healthcare coverage for all children by 2010. She increased investments in schools, reduced staffing ratios for school support personnel, and expanded college enrollments.
As the nation’s largest and fastest-growing union, SEIU represents 103,000 Washington State workers in health care, public services, and property services. SEIU members are fighting for good jobs, safer staffing levels in hospitals and nursing homes, and for quality, reliable public services. SEIU represents 1.9 million members nationwide.

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SEIU Locals in Washington State include:

SEIU Local 6 – representing 3,500 janitors and security guards
SEIU Local 49 – representing 1,200 health care workers in SW Washington
SEIU Healthcare 775NW – representing 33,000 long-term care workers
SEIU 925 – representing 23,000 education and child care workers
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW – representing 22,000 nurses and healthcare workers
SEIU Local 1948 – representing 27,000 school employees