[Chico David RN]

Now you have indeed gone a bit too far. Or rather quite a lot too far.

CNA/NNOC has quadrupled in membership in the last 15 years, with the vast majority of the membership growth coming from new organizing. Every one of those elections was won after a full campaign with open debate and the opportunity for nurses to be fully informed.

CNA wrote, fought for and won California's landmark staffing law, which SEIU allied with the healthcare industry to try to derail and later tried to water down by including LVNs in the ratios.

When Arnie tried to roll back the law, CNA fought a year-long successful battle to preserve the law, a fight from which SEIU was notably absent.

CNA has won the best contracts and highest wages for registered nurses in the industry, often after long and bitter fights.

During CNA's 5-strike, year plus war with Kaiser in the 90s, SEIU switched sides in mid battle by forming a "partnership' with Kaiser, working to undercut CNA.

Now let's look at what the Stern agenda for America's workers looks like:

Partnering with Walmart to seek fake healthcare reform and derail the demand for real reform.

Crossing a union picket line to appear on stage with the CEO of Walmart.

Crossing another picket line to kiss up to Schwarzanegger and help promote a fake "healthcare reform" that the California Federation of Labor had voted to oppose.

Splintering the labor movement by leaving the AFL-CIO because they wouldn't go along with his plan for forced mergers of smaller unions.

Working with the government of Puerto Rico to break the democratic teachers union there

Making deals with nursing home owners in which the union agreed to support the owners' political program and gag workers from criticizing patient care in the homes, in return for organizing rights to some of the homes' workers.

Removing the democratically elected officers of numerous locals and replacing them with Stern-appointed loyalists.

And that's just a start. We could go on.

I helped organize my hospital in 2000 with CNA after a tough election under labor board rules in which we faced a full-force Burke Group campaign. I become a bargaining team member, then Chief Steward, then in 2003 was elected to the CNA board. Then in 2005 to the executive board.
In the last 5 years, I've been part of a lot of policy discussions and decisions. Not once in all that time has there been a moment of discussion that I am not proud of. Not once has there been a moment when anyone has said "We know this is wrong, but we'll do it because it's expedient."
Not once has there been a discussion that started from strategy. Every time we are faced with a discussion of what to do, it always starts with principle - "What's right?". Then we turn to "What's the most effective way to do what's right?"

My reasons for organizing with CNA had little to do with me own work situation. I was happy in my job and satisfied with my pay. I chose CNA because it was clear to me that this organization had the potential to change American healthcare for the better and I wanted to be part of it. Nothing has happened in the years since to make me regret that decision.

[Organize1199]

The California Nurses Association came to Ohio for one reason and one reason only - to destroy a three-year organizing campaign at 9 Ohio hospitals. There are no clever words for you to hide behind. That's what you did.

Your holier-than-thou cloak is off, and everyone can see exactly what you are. If you bust the union, you're a union-buster.

Along with the 8,000 Ohio families you betrayed, I know you by your fruits.

[Chico David RN]

False again of course. CNA/NNOC has been working in Ohio for over 2 years, laying the foundations for organizing by putting on classes for nurses and building a coalition around passing a staffing ratio bill in Ohio. All of which will, when enough base has been developed, lead to organizing nurses for collective bargaining. The fear of CNA/NNOC was the main reason the hospitals were suddenly willing to do this deal with SEIU. Their worst nightmare is a union that really fights for nurses and patients.
Get your facts straight.

[HobbesRN]

Originally Posted by RN Power Ohio

What's not to get...With a rushed back door election these are the kinds of things SEIU will do! No wonder the Ohio Hospital Association (which spends millions on union avoidance) praises the deal between SEIU and CHP

http://www.sfweekly.com/2004-06-30/n...ers-in-slime/3

I am proud to be part of an organization that actually fights for patient rights and NOT corporate rights. NNOC is not selling it's soul but rather spread the soul and spirit of true health care reform and patient safey.

I just read the article you provided the link to--this is an issue in California and Sal Rossini, the proponent of this amendment, is a rogue SEIU official who has resigned from the SEIU executive board because he couldn't abide by their democratic process. He is not representative of the SEIU local that was involved in the organization of the CHP workers in OH, nor the SEIU organization in general.

It would seem CNA would do well to spend the resources of its membership a little closer to home.

[HobbesRN]

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

False again of course. CNA/NNOC has been working in Ohio for over 2 years, laying the foundations for organizing by putting on classes for nurses and building a coalition around passing a staffing ratio bill in Ohio. All of which will, when enough base has been developed, lead to organizing nurses for collective bargaining. The fear of CNA/NNOC was the main reason the hospitals were suddenly willing to do this deal with SEIU. Their worst nightmare is a union that really fights for nurses and patients.
Get your facts straight.

CNA/NNOC did not get involved publicly in that union-busting effort until the week of the election. They did not run an organizing campaign like SEIU did for years to try to win an election for CHP workers, most of whom are not RNs.
CNA/NNOC has not organized one bargaining unit in Ohio. The jury's still out as to who they are REALLY fighting for....they can say they are fighting for nurses and patients, but that's yet to come to fruition in Ohio. SEIU DOES represent nurses in OH---and other healthcare workers.

[Organize1199]

Oh, Chico! "Laying the foundations for organizing"? CNA hasn't laid the foundation for a country outhouse.

You have never organized a worker, never bargained a contract, and never passed so much as a township ordinance in the state of Ohio. You have no visible presence here whatsoever, and your political allies consist of an eccentric who came in 4th in a field of 5 for Brooksville City Council.

Passing laws to benefit Ohio workers takes a labor movement that works together. For example, SEIU led a coalition in Ohio to pass a constitutional amendment in 2006, raising the minimum wage. I can promise you, we didn't do it by running union-busting operations on other worker organizations.

The only thing the California Nurses Association has ever shown up in force to do in Ohio, was to run a massive VOTE NO campaign - an anti-union campaign. The next day, your anti-union organizers headed for the hills. Just like St. Louis. You betrayed thousands of workers and their families and you left town.

CNA members - the majority of you who are real union folks - please, you have got to stand up to that unelected hypocrite, Rose Ann DeMoro, and her gang. Do what it takes. Please, don't let them spend another dime of your union dues to destroy hope in Ohio.

IN SOLIDARITY

[SEIU PSYCH RN]

Originally Posted by Organize1199

Oh, Chico! "Laying the foundations for organizing"? CNA hasn't laid the foundation for a country outhouse.

You have never organized a worker, never bargained a contract, and never passed so much as a township ordinance in the state of Ohio. You have no visible presence here whatsoever, and your political allies consist of an eccentric who came in 4th in a field of 5 for Brooksville City Council.

Passing laws to benefit Ohio workers takes a labor movement that works together. For example, SEIU led a coalition in Ohio to pass a constitutional amendment in 2006, raising the minimum wage. I can promise you, we didn't do it by running union-busting operations on other worker organizations.

The only thing the California Nurses Association has ever shown up in force to do in Ohio, was to run a massive VOTE NO campaign - an anti-union campaign. The next day, your anti-union organizers headed for the hills. Just like St. Louis. You betrayed thousands of workers and their families and you left town.

CNA members - the majority of you who are real union folks - please, you have got to stand up to that unelected hypocrite, Rose Ann DeMoro, and her gang. Do what it takes. Please, don't let them spend another dime of your union dues to destroy hope in Ohio.

IN SOLIDARITY

And lets not forget an SEIU led coalition gathered over 250,000 signatures for our Healthy Families Campaign and is on the verge of winning paid sick days for all employees whose company have more than 25 employees a real grass roots effort

[Chico David RN]

Originally Posted by Organize1199

Oh, Chico! "Laying the foundations for organizing"? CNA hasn't laid the foundation for a country outhouse.

You have never organized a worker, never bargained a contract, and never passed so much as a township ordinance in the state of Ohio. You have no visible presence here whatsoever, and your political allies consist of an eccentric who came in 4th in a field of 5 for Brooksville City Council.

Passing laws to benefit Ohio workers takes a labor movement that works together. For example, SEIU led a coalition in Ohio to pass a constitutional amendment in 2006, raising the minimum wage. I can promise you, we didn't do it by running union-busting operations on other worker organizations.

The only thing the California Nurses Association has ever shown up in force to do in Ohio, was to run a massive VOTE NO campaign - an anti-union campaign. The next day, your anti-union organizers headed for the hills. Just like St. Louis. You betrayed thousands of workers and their families and you left town.

CNA members - the majority of you who are real union folks - please, you have got to stand up to that unelected hypocrite, Rose Ann DeMoro, and her gang. Do what it takes. Please, don't let them spend another dime of your union dues to destroy hope in Ohio.

IN SOLIDARITY

I think nurses can figure out that the reason for this sudden massive SEIU presence here is simply that y'all have finally figured out that we are a danger to the "organize the boss, growth at any cost, to hell with standards" regime that holds sway in SEIU today. Many locals in SEIU have a proud history of good organizing and good politics. 1199 perhaps the best of them all. Unfortunately the current leadership has disgraced that history and in the name of numbers above all, top-down unionism.

Rosa Ann, our executive director, is a smart strategist and tactician. But you make a big mistake to be so very fixated on her. This union is run by - really run by - an elected board of 30 RNs. Every critical decision is made by that board. I'm proud to be one of them. If Rose Ann disappeared tomorrow, we might be a bit slower without her tactical brain, but the direction would change not one iota. All volunteer, all working bedside nurses, all of whom believe in the direction of this union.

[Organize1199]

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

I think nurses can figure out that the reason for this sudden massive SEIU presence here ...

Can you clarify, I don't think I follow you. In California? Around 600,000 Californians are SEIU members.

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

Many locals in SEIU have a proud history of good organizing and good politics. 1199 perhaps the best of them all.

Yep, that's us. (Did you accidentally run a VOTE NO at the wrong union?)

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

Unfortunately the current leadership has disgraced that history and in the name of numbers above all, top-down unionism.

This is a reference to an internal disagreement within SEIU. The intensity of our internal discussion ought to tell you something: we're an incredibly democratic organization. You don't get this level of debate in an autocratic situation.

That said, CNA's interest in promoting, parroting and referencing our internal argument is self-serving. You want to divide SEIU just like you want to divide the UAN, and the labor movement in general. A weakened labor movement is better ground for decerts and raids. The strategy is as cynical as it is unconscionable.

It's also hypocritical. The CNA is far more centralized than SEIU. Rose Ann DeMoro is an unelected leader. And didn't y'all recently get rid of term limits? I rather think you did.

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

This union is run by - really run by - an elected board of 30 RNs. Every critical decision is made by that board. I'm proud to be one of them.

Tell me about your decision to run an anti-union VOTE NO campaign against 8,000 workers in Ohio this month.

Originally Posted by Chico David RN

If Rose Ann disappeared tomorrow, we might be a bit slower without her tactical brain, but the direction would change not one iota.

I guess my hope is that you've just been sucking down glassfuls of Charlie Idelson's Propaganda Kool-Aid. It tastes so sweet (and red) but it's poisonous lies.

Without those liars feeding you a line, I'm not so sure you'd think it was okay to betray 8,000 working families in the Midwest.

Maybe it's the nice things you said about our union, 1199. But maybe I just have more faith in humanity than to think all 30 of you can possible be so sick.

[Chico David RN]

Organize1199: I notice that, lacking the logic or evidence or good sense to win any points, that all of your posts have degenerated to personal attacks and insults and just repeating the same hackneyed slogans over and over again as if they had some power to do something. I would think that by now you, as a professional organizer, would have learned that RNs are not going to respond positively to that style.

Let me review the basics here a bit:

The thrust of your basic claim is that by a very few nurse volunteers and even fewer union staff passing out flyers and speaking to nurses, it became impossible for the election in Ohio to go through. And none of what they said or handed out was "anti-union". It was anti-YOUR union. There is a difference.

One of the things nurses learn as part of our education is the concept of critical thinking skills.

It wasn't that many years ago that I went through organizing at my own hospital. Our organizers built relationships of trust and respect with us. We had a sense of personal loyalty and connection. We got the full force barrage of anti union propaganda over a period of many weeks. Much of that propaganda was delivered by managers we had known for years, many of whom we liked personally. But it made no difference. The election went on as scheduled and we won by a solid margin - because all that trust had been built and groundwork had been laid. Had any strangers shown up at the last minute, and tried to intervene - as SEIU has done in our elections elsewhere - it would have made no difference.
The fact that this little deal was so easily disrupted, simply proves that it had very little foundation to stand on. You obviously had a small - likely very small - group of very committed supporters. I suspect the hope was that the voter turnout would be so small that small group could carry the day. The employer, on the other hand, had nothing to lose either way. If the vote was no, they got to remain as they like to say "union free". If the vote was yes, they get a nice compliant union that had likely already preagreed to some sell-out contract terms as part of the deal to get the election agreement.

As for the internal democracy in SEIU, I note that Stern has now taken the first steps to depose Roselli as the elected leader of UHW for having the temerity to disagree. I suspect we'll soon see all the elected leadership of that local tossed out and replaced with Stern appointees. Not very democratic looking process from here.

Oh, I almost forgot: On the clarification you asked for, I meant the sudden massive SEIU presence on this site. All joined this month just for the purpose of attacking CNA.