SEIU Attacks and Disrupts at Labor Notes

[RN Power Ohio]

SEIU International Backs Away From Debate, Disrupts 2008 Labor Notes Conference

-- The Labor Notes Staff

SEIU protesters attempt to storm the banquet at the 2008 Labor Notes Conference. Photo: Jim West.

When you are trying to put the movement back into the labor movement, you're going to meet resistance. Labor Notes supporters are no strangers to heated debate--and the SEIU International is not the first union to protest at our conference. During the 1980s, for example, we saw opponents of the New Directions Movement inside the United Auto Workers put up picket lines outside our conference hotel and had BLAST--the Brotherhood of Loyal Americans and Strong Teamsters--try to intimidate Teamster reformers attending our events.

People are going to disagree and that is fine. There is no idea that can't be discussed at a Labor Notes conference. We welcome debate on any and all issues facing the labor movement, including the heated dispute between the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) and the leaders of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) over the best way to build power for health care workers. But that debate must take place with respect and free from intimidation. Despite being welcomed to the conference earlier in the day--and given space to debate supporters of the CNA/NNOC about neutrality organizing agreements--SEIU staff and members shouted down speakers at workshops and panels throughout the event.

At our Saturday night banquet hundreds of SEIU protesters stormed into our conference and confronted our volunteers and supporters. In 29 years we have never had a group of protesters attack our conference or the brothers and sisters who attend it. Violence has no place within our labor movement, and we call on the national leadership of SEIU, including President Andy Stern, to repudiate it.

http://labornotes.org/node/1604

Disgusting, horrible and uncivilized! I personally witnessed this assault and am outraged.

[RN Power Ohio]

Please also read this perspective from an SEIU member on the attack at the Labor Notes Conference.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/13/151439/114/825/493447

It was my impression at this conference that most SEIU members agree with this perspective. Why isn't Andy Stern -President of SEIU-listening?

[Music in My Heart]

Evidently, on Saturday, April 12, several bus loads of people representing the SEIU stormed a labor conference at which leaders from CNA/NNOC were meeting with other labor activists to discuss ways to empower the labor movement.

At least one woman was taken to the hospital due to the assault and the Dearborn police were called to clear the intruders from the conference.

http://labornotes.org/node/1604

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/april/rns-condemn-violent-service-union-attack-at-michigan-event-hundreds-of-seiu-staff-bused-in-to-smash-into-meeting-to-attack-rns-and-break-up-conference-on-union-democracy.html

[RN Power Ohio]

Thanks for posting. I was there and words cannot describe the level of terror SEIU inflicted upon innocent hotel guests, staff and conference attendees.

The scariest thing I came to learn once the melee calmed was that people got on those buses and did not even know what they were getting on to do! They even brought children.

I can tell you as I stood in the grand foyer watching the glass doors shake people were afraid. I myself fled down a service alley with other nurses and when we came out we witnessed SEIU members punching and pushing innocent attendees who joined together to form a chain to keep them out of the ballroom- chanting si se peude!! This was a great act of solidarity from our brothers and sisters in the labor movement.

Kudos to the Dearborn police for their expedited response and to the fire and rescue workers who arrived on the scene as well.

It was horribly offensive that SEIU planted people to cause disruption in forums of open debate and discussion but this attack could have turned into a full blown riot and cost people lives.

It is appalling that people would behave so badly however, courage and strength always shine brightly in the face of trouble- there were many shining as they joined together to aid the injured and guide people out of harms way.

[RN Power Ohio]

Another account of this event from a conference attendee:

http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/post/michaelcarano/C3FY

[SEIU PSYCH RN]

Please also read this perspective from an SEIU member on the attack at the Labor Notes Conference.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/13/151439/114/825/493447

It was my impression at this conference that most SEIU members agree with this perspective. Why isn't Andy Stern -President of SEIU-listening?

Yes most members attending that conference agree. However, most are from UHW which represents about 100K Seiu members. The other 1.8 million Seiu members do not agree. Therefore Andy is listening to the vast majority (95%) of his members

[RN Power Ohio]

Were you at the conference- I witnessed a Michigan SEIU member who attended the conference hang his head in shame and tear off his purple vest in an elevator after the attacks- he was embarressed he said and apologized to us.

I am certain if you took a democratic vote of SEIU members they would not agree with attacking elderly women and peaceful conference attendees!

[RN Power Ohio]

Yet another account of the events...

http://willamettereds.blogspot.com/2008/04/labor-notes-conference-and-seiu-fourth.html

[SEIU PSYCH RN]

Yet another account of the events...

http://willamettereds.blogspot.com/2008/04/labor-notes-conference-and-seiu-fourth.html

If you think you can continue to organize on our back and bleed off the nurses you are wrong. I am a nurse and was on one of the buses which came to the Hyatt. We came to chant in peace you hired extra security to keep us out. As your web site notes we even brought our children didnt expect confrentation. And most of those who showed up were not staff but members. I admit it got a little out of hand but because of you not us. We were there to chant for ten minutes and let the Catholic Health Partners nurses tell there story. You will not be allowed to continue to disrupt our elections and raid our union with out consequence. As noted on CNA website we brought young children with us not looking for confrontation. And the last speakers at the barbuque before we came were CHP nurses which you denied the right to a CBA>

[RN Power Ohio]

Those nurses told their story the WHOLE day and disrupted every room they were in because they were encouraged by SEIU to do so in every forum and in a manner that was inappropratie.

Many important debates and discussions were planned that they and many others would have benefitted from. There were many people who were wanting to hear their story but they with the help of SEIU staff undermined their opportunity.

The extra security NNOC provided was with NNOC NOT in that melee they escorted most of our group away simultaneously with your aggressive breach of the door. The people who chained together to keep SEIU out did so because they saw a MOB and wanted to keep people safe. They were conference attendees.

[bigreddog1934]

why is it that seiu will not mobilize membership against corporate health care and hospital associations with this degree of aggression?

i understand it is because seiu sees union organizing today like a human resources department for the hospitals. before i was a nurse i was a carpenter in in one of the "change to win" unions. the hallmark of these unions is that the employers are more important that the people in the workplace, that it is our job to keep profits rolling in, and these profits have to come at the cost of union democracy and membership strength.

it is a shame that seiu's return to aggressive tactics can not be pointed at the for-profit health care industry, to win better conditions and wages. instead it is used against a meeting of union workers. on behalf of seiu members lets in the mean time be clear that this tactic came from the top down. its not the membership we have an issue with. it the appointed leadership.

[SEIU PSYCH RN]

why is it that seiu will not mobilize membership against corporate health care and hospital associations with this degree of aggression?

i understand it is because seiu sees union organizing today like a human resources department for the hospitals. before i was a nurse i was a carpenter in in one of the "change to win" unions. the hallmark of these unions is that the employers are more important that the people in the workplace, that it is our job to keep profits rolling in, and these profits have to come at the cost of union democracy and membership strength.

it is a shame that seiu's return to aggressive tactics can not be pointed at the for-profit health care industry, to win better conditions and wages. instead it is used against a meeting of union workers. on behalf of seiu members lets in the mean time be clear that this tactic came from the top down. its not the membership we have an issue with. it the appointed leadership.

My employeer certainly doesn't see SEIu as there HR dept. We battle on a almost daily basis. And i as a member organizer have been to Chicago San Antonio and Colorado. Not the first time i have encountered CNA underhanded tatics. And I agree i have nothing against my fellow nurses in the CNA just there leadership