Volume 2 / Issue 9

Well, they’re at it again. Is there anywhere in this great country that honest, hard-working public employees can go without having to be threatened, harassed and intimidated by SEIU thugs? There should be and I would love for that place to be right here in the Inland Empire. REAP is dedicated to making that happen. In order to accomplish that, we need to educate people on what SEIU is really about.

Our colleagues in San Bernardino County have been forced to learn about SEIU and their tactics over the last year as SEIU has been trying to kidnap the members of SBPEA (San Bernardino Public Employees Association). For those of you who are familiar with SEIU and their tactics, you know our colleagues in San Bernardino County and their families have been violated by SEIU as SEIU swarmed over San Bernardino County employees like locusts consuming and devastating fields of healthy crops. The damage both SEIU and locusts do can be crippling to hard-working American workers.

In a letter to their members dated June 2, 2014, SBPEA shares with members that SEIU was able to obtain, through illegal methods, employees’ names, home addresses, home and personal telephone numbers and emergency contact information for San Bernardino County employees who are currently represented by SBPEA (see pages 1 & 2). What did SEIU do with the information they obtained illegally from the County of San Bernardino? SEIU used the illegally obtained contact information to send multiple unsolicited, unwarranted and unwanted mailers to SBPEA members’ homes. SEIU continues to show no regard for what is best for public employees; they continue to cross the line by disrespecting the law, the employer and the very employees they seek to represent. This happens time and time again because they continue to focus on only one thing – the money.

On June 19, 2014, SBPEA members in several bargaining units voted on their tentative contracts; all SBPEA units, with the exception of the Professional Unit, ratified their contract and will remain with SBPEA. The Professional Unit however, rejected their tentative contract and SEIU submitted designation cards to the County of San Bernardino documenting their intent to decertify the Professional Unit from SBPEA. The County of San Bernardino must validate the signatures and ensure the correct percentage of members’ signatures was obtained. Once both are confirmed, the SBPEA Professional Unit members will vote whether to move out of SBPEA and hire SEIU 721 as their new union. IF THEY ONLY KNEW WHAT LIES AHEAD…

Over this last year, SBPEA has not only had to negotiate a contract for several of their bargaining units, they also had to spend money and resources to fight SEIU and the lies SEIU told to get SBPEA members’ attention. SBPEA was forced to request (and they were granted) a temporary restraining order against SEIU. Additionally, the County of San Bernardino is looking at how confidential information was obtained by SEIU and is prepared to file criminal charges if warranted. Unfortunately, SBPEA was not granted a preliminary injunction however; SBPEA will continue the legal battle against SEIU until they get a permanent injunction.

Some of you have experienced these types of shenanigans from SEIU. Remember the dues increase they tried to slip by Riverside County employees? How many unwanted phone calls, fliers and home visits have you received over the years? SEIU staffers don’t show up with homemade cookies, freshly squeezed lemonade and inspiring quotes to lift your spirits. They come with promises of BIG raises, increased contributions to medical coverage and improvements to the work environment to include a BIG colorful SEIU bulletin board in your break room. Should you fall for these promises without question, SEIU will shower you with attention until you have volunteered for every campaign and committee you can fit in a 7-day workweek only to wake up one day to find you are doing all the work alone. For those that don’t fall for SEIU’s false promises and are so bold to ask a question, SEIU will respond in a demeaning manor in an effort to make you feel you are uneducated or misinformed, AND – they will never answer your question!

It is unfortunate that SBPEA and our colleagues in San Bernardino have had to experience SEIU at their best. The good news is that SEIU is so unorganized they probably have already lost all the contact information they obtained illegally.

The lesson here is that SEIU has not and will not change. They are not interested in doing work that is in the best interest of the members; their purpose is to gather more members because where there are members, there is money. It is all about the money.

Looking towards the future…

Volume 2 / Issue 5

It’s All About the Money!!

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared close Tuesday — but maybe not close enough — to scaling back the ability of labor unions to represent public employees.

The case before them involved just eight home-care workers in Illinois who don’t want union representation, and certainly don’t want to pay union dues. But it has escalated into what Justice Antonin Scalia, the potential swing vote, said could amount to “destroying the ability of the union to get money.”For decades, the law has allowed unions to collect dues from all private or public employees they are required to represent. Those who object don’t have to contribute to unions’ political or lobbying activities, but they must chip in for wage, benefit and working conditions representation. The home-care workers in Harris v. Quinn say they should not have to join the union — even though the union, by law, is required to represent them. They contend that they work for individuals with disabilities whose funding comes from the state-federal Medicaid program — not the state of Illinois, which signed a contract with the Service Employees International Union. (read the complete article here)

The above article was published in USA Today in January 2014. What’s interesting is this case revolves around eight people and the premise of it is being heard by the Supreme Court. If it’s ever crossed your mind the lengths SEIU will go to get your money, this should be a fairly accurate gauge. Article XV, Section 6a – 6d of the SEIU International ByLaws, outlines the minimum and maximum amounts each local can collect in dues based on each members’ annual earnings. This is not what Local 721 did in the Inland Empire in June of 2013. Bob Schoonover likes to tell the members in the IE that the Los Angeles members are “mad as
hell” that we do not pay a percentage like they do. Truth be told Bob– you’re absolutely correct! They are mad as hell, but not because of what we pay but rather for what they pay and for what they get! In April of 2012, the employees in Fresno County had the same sentiment for SEIU that we have. It’s was time for a change then and it is time for a change in Riverside County now!

In 2005, SEIU International decided it would be in their best interest to group smaller locals into more powerful regional locals. Hence, 721 in Southern California and 1021 in the Central part of the state. They’ve used this model to influence, or muscle, smaller locals throughout the country into the same submission. Because of the bill of goods we were sold, we’re stuck with what we have, for now. Fortunately though, many members of these larger locals have been quite vocal and there seems to be a trend where these smaller locals are refusing to become part of these mega-locals.

Why does SEIU 721 pay $4200.00 to each Board Member annually? Is this “go along with it” money? Who approved it? What is a lost timer? Apparently Bob Schoonover, Wendy Thomas and several others are lost timers. Is this also something that was approved by the members or was it something that was approved by Bob and Gilda Valdez? It just seems there are too many unanswered questions.

As a Board Member for SEIU in Los Angeles, Harold Sterker receives his $4200.00 annually. Rosie Martinez is currently on SEIU’s payroll. In 2012 she earned $27.091.00. Recently, SEIU recognized and congratulated both for their dedication to employees at the Riverside County Regional Medical Center. So much so that you’ve given them a $20,000.00 increase. How this will be used or who received it is unclear. However, according to the minutes, the time has come for them to possibly move on to another assignment.

Speaking of RCRMC, a flyer is circulating throughout the hospital about SEIU Nurse Alliance of California. SEIU-UHW has their own history and hopefully the employees at RCRMC will see through the smoke and mirrors before committing. There is much more information about all of SEIU’s sorted past and present, including SEIU-UHW at Stern Berger w/Fries.

Remember…everything SEIU does is for the money…The members they represent are just a necessary inconvenience.

Looking Towards the Future…