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2007 Highlights

Our Locals produced so much good work in the past six months that we could not possibly list it all in this newsletter. Here, however, are some highlights of what we've done together since last July.

  • Tenet RallyTenet Workers Win Landmark Contract. Some 8,000-plus SEIU Healthcare nurses and hospital workers at Tenet Healthcare hospitals in California and Florida won new agreements that strengthen caregivers' voices on patient care decisions, established access to employer-paid health insurance for Florida employees, and allow workers at some Tenet hospitals to unite with SEIU Healthcare without interference from their managers and supervisors. Because of the efforts and strength of SEIU Healthcare, we will represent workers at more Tenet facilities.

  • The Partnership for Quality Care Expands. SEIU joined with the nation's largest healthcare providers to launch the Partnership for Quality Care to press for the reform and improvement of our healthcare system. The Partnership includes public, private, religious, teaching, and nonprofit hospitals, as well as SEIU Healthcare's million members. Since then, PQC has added highly respected healthcare providers, including Group Health Cooperative (Washington State), Health Partners and The Mayo Clinic (Minnesota), Jackson Health System (Florida) and Partners Healthcare (Massachusetts)

  • PCAs Gain a Voice in Massachusetts. In the largest union election in the history of New England, more than 22,000 Personal Care Attendants in Massachusetts voted to unite in 1199SEIU. 

  • COPE: Growing Our Political Power. SEIU Healthcare members are the most politically active, most engaged Union members in the country. They're leading campaigns for state-based healthcare reform, shaping public-private partnerships in long-term care, and mobilizing voters to elect candidates who share our vision of quality, affordable healthcare for all. 

    We increased total COPE contributions to Political Action by 23 percent over 2006. Eight Locals doubled (or more) their monthly COPE revenue compared to the 2006 average. An estimated 61,200 members signed up for COPE for the first time in 2007, representing a 43 percent increase.

  • Strike Support for Appalachian Nurses.SEIU Healthcare nurses came to the aid of 700 striking UAN nurses throughout the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in Kentucky and West Virginia. SEIU Healthcare members raised over $130,000 in emergency strike funds, traveled cross-country to walk the picket lines, and adopted hospitals during the holiday season to ensure that nurses and their families had extra support. 

  • Illinois and Indiana Caregivers Unite. SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana now have the combined strength of over 90,000 members to lead the way on healthcare and childcare reform. With three Locals joining together to create one powerful force for political action, bargaining and organizing, this is truly "new strength and unity."

  • Mayo Clinic Service Workers Coming Together. SEIU Healthcare, in agreement with UNITE/HERE, will now represent some 1,900-service workers who help make the world-renowned Mayo Clinic run.