SEIU Agrees to Gag Nursing Home Workers
Full story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003601276_seiu05m.html
By Ralph Thomas
Seattle Times Olympia bureau
OLYMPIA -- State lawmakers are used to seeing big budget requests from the Service Employees International Union, Washington's fastest-growing labor organization.
But few legislators realize what's really behind SEIU Local 775's push this year for a $60 million state-funding increase for nursing homes.
Under a confidential written agreement with several operators of for-profit nursing homes, Local 775 has promised to help push for more money, and in exchange, the companies have pledged to bless the union's organizing efforts.
Although the main goal of the agreement is to pursue public money, its details have been kept secret. The Seattle Times recently obtained a draft copy of the agreement.