National SEIU President Andy Stern Tours Local Adult Day Health Facility, Criticizes Cuts

Visits ElderHealth Northwest's Facility in South Seattle

August 12, 2009 -- Andy Stern got a close-up look at Washington’s Adult Day Health services today, and saw a great and essential program for disabled adults that was decimated by state budget cuts in this past legislative session.

Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), met with members of SEIU Healthcare 775NW members, clients and administrators at the ElderHealth facility in Columbia City (in south Seattle).

He enjoyed the chance to watch active, adults with disabilities working with professional staff.

What Stern didn’t like, however, is how the Washington State legislature slashed Adult Day Health’s budget this year – decimating the program.

“I hope we can restore the cuts you people have had to go through,” Stern said. “This is a great facility that does some extremely important work.”

Two Adult Day Health administrators personally thanked Stern for SEIU’s political work in Olympia that helped prevent even more devastating cuts.

Stern’s Seattle visit focused mostly on health care reform. He praised Washington residents and politicians when it came to their support and enthusiasm for healthcare reform.

But, he criticized the Washington State legislature for not having the courage to raise revenue in the wake of massive budget cuts. The state’s boom and bust cycle of taxes and services isn’t working.

“You have a very regressive tax system that doesn’t fund the services people want,” Stern said.

Stern spent the day in Seattle meeting touring several health care facilities and meeting with members of SEIU Healthcare 775NW, SEIU Local 6, SEIU Local 925 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Andy Stern is the president of the 2 million member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents public employees, health care and property services workers throughout North America.

SEIU Healthcare 775NW represents 37,000 long-term care workers in Washington State and Montana.