Back in 1995 I met 1199 members from New York at the 'Nurses March on Washington'.
Seems this union is also in Cleveland. If you are too what do you think?
http://www.cleveland.com/search/inde...ounty_cuyahoga
AFL-CIO revotes, endorses Issue 15
05/02/03
Mark Naymik
Politics Writer
A last-minute change of heart by a labor group gives the campaign for
Cuyahoga County's health and human-services tax more volunteers to call
and visit voters before Tuesday's election.
The Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, whose members voted earlier
this month to remain neutral on the issue, last night reversed itself and
endorsed the tax. The tax appears on the ballot as Issue 15.
John Ryan, head of the
Cleveland AFL-CIO, said the
labor group is prepared to
organize union members to
persuade their co-workers
and other voters to support
the tax.
Members of the AFL-CIO's
executive committee, some
of whom individually had
already endorsed the tax,
called last night's meeting. It
marked the first time in 21
years that the committee
asked its members to
reconsider a vote, Ryan said.
He said the committee believed the tax-supported services, such as day
care for the working poor and health care services for seniors, outweighed
the reservations of the labor group.
Earlier, the Cleveland AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union
Local 1199 said they would back the tax only if county-supported health
agencies signed an agreement guaranteeing that their managements
would remain neutral during union drives. Union leaders said they didn't
want agencies spending tax dollars to fight their organizing efforts.
None of the agencies signed the agreement. As a result, SEIU launched
an aggressive campaign to convince voters that the tax dollars will be
misspent, while the AFL-CIO voted to remain on the sidelines.
During last night's closed-door meeting, the SEIU opposed the
endorsement, said union members who attended the session. More than
two-thirds of the 130 delegates supported the endorsement.
"The executive board remains united despite the differences on this issue,
and the federation will continue to work for neutrality in union organizing,"
Ryan said.
Ryan said the AFL-CIO leadership will not criticize the SEIU's campaign.
Dave Regan, leader of SEIU Local 1199, described last night's debate as
an "internal matter" and said it would not change his union's position.
© 2003 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
Would you like to comment?
