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Joint Statement by SEIU Washington State Local Union Presidents Regarding the Retirement of SEIU President Andy Stern

Friday, April 16

Andy Stern - Health Care Town Hall in Seattle SEIU WA Local Union Presidents thank President Andy Stern for his years of service and wish him well in his next endeavors. President Stern’s bold, fearless and innovative leadership has drastically improved the lives of the 2 million janitors, nurses, educational employees, child care providers, security guards and long-term care workers we represent -- and, for all working Americans.

His tenure began in the midst of a declining labor movement and President Stern set out to accomplish nothing less than radical reforms for America’s workers. We are proud of SEIU’s accomplishments over the last 14 years including organizing 1 million new workers, electing Barack Obama as President, and passing historic health insurance reform.

We are also proud of the work we have accomplished in Washington State over the last decade – organizing tens of thousands of home care, childcare, health care, and property service workers; holding politicians accountable, winning real improvements in wages and benefits for low-wage workers, and, most recently, preventing deeper cuts to health care and education by increasing revenue.

We look forward to a positive and thoughtful discussion about the future of our union. We are all committed to working closely with our next SEIU President, each other, and the national officers to continue to unite workers in our union, hold politicians accountable, win social justice and continue President Stern’s work to strengthen and grow the labor movement in America and in Washington State.

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On behalf of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Washington State Local Union Presidents, Sergio Salinas (SEIU Local 6), Meg Niemi (SEIU Local 49), David Rolf (SEIU 775 Healthcare NW), Kim Cook (SEIU Local 925), Diane Sosne (SEIU 1199 Healthcare NW), and Judi Owens (SEIU Local1948/PSE).

Health Care Reform - Yes, We Did!

Health Care Reform Cannot WaitMonday, March 22

Last night's vote is one of the most important achievements by the U.S. Congress in a generation. And we made it happen.
Thousands of activists like you made calls this week - and it paid off. Rep. Brian Baird was an undecided vote - up till yesterday. when he received thousands of phone calls from SEIU members and other health care activists. Baird is just one example of how our phone calls, emails, petitions and in-person meetings made a difference.

Passing Health Care Reform will:

  • Make insurance more affordable by providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history;
  • Give tens of millions of Americans the exact same insurance choices that members of Congress have;
  • Bring greater accountability to keep premiums down and prevent insurance industry abuses and denial of care;
  • End discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions; and
  • Allow children to remain on their parent's coverage - up to age 26.


» Read more

March for America: Immigration Reform Rally in Washington, DC

Sunday, March 21

Oscar Perdomo, Manuel Brito and Susie Young at the March for America Immigration Reform Rally in Washington DC on Sunday, March 22 SEIU Healthcare 775NW members Oscar Perdomo, Manuel Brito and Susie Young traveled to the other Washington over the weekend to join SEIU International leaders Andy Stern, Eliseo Medina standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 200,000 immigrants, union members and activists on Sunday for a rally on the National Mall to demand Congress pass immigration reform.

"Those who lead on immigration reform will be rewarded on Election Day, and those who stand in the way will be sent home," said Medina. "It's time for our leaders to step up and do the right thing."

March for America is being reported as the biggest political mobilization since President Obama's inauguration a year ago.

Holding flags and handmade signs carrying messages such as "No Human Being is Illegal," "We Work for America," and "Workers, Taxpayers, Voters for Reform," yesterday's marchers lifted their voices so that Congress could hear: we want immigration reform and we want it now.

"Building a 21st century economy where dreams come true is not about Democrats or Republicans or left and right; fixing our broken immigration system is about what is right and wrong for a great nation," said Andy Stern. "Now is the time for to make America a great nation once again and to make the dream of everyone's children still come true. That is the American Dream and why we love this country."

During the march, President Obama addressed the crowd through a videotaped message, saying he would do everything within his power to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform this year. Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Nydia Velasquez (D-NY) and a host of other Congressional Hispanic Caucus members joined the call for action, telling the crowd that the time is now.

March for America - Immigration Reform Rally in DC - Photo Credit: Lloyd Wolf

Change Takes Courage

To escalate pressure for immigration reform after yesterday's historic march, we need to be reaching out to our Senators and members of Congress to demand legislative action for immigration reform. If our elected lawmakers won't choose courage over hate, we'll elect people who will. Medina spoke on raising the stakes yesterday, saying "On May 1, we're going to issue a report card to show who is standing with us and who is standing against us."

Comprehensive immigration reform will add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy, drive up wages for all workers, and support nearly a million jobs.

Photos: You can also see and download photos at SEIU's Flickr page here.

Watch our highlights video from March for America here.