Working Life

    I’ve reached my max on the convention grind. What happens at conventions really is about relationship building, along with the content. But, hey, there is some SEIU-related stuff out there today that’s worth mentioning.     Quick. Snap question: after Wal-Mart, who is the second-largest employer in the country? Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, […]

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    The debate begins on the long-term care resolution: combining all long-term care workers in each state into one local in a state. There will be emotional language but the resolution will pass. A vote on Saturday at the meeting of the health care division supported the resolution so this vote is a foregone conclusion. […]

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    I think there is a serious issue that demands that SEIU be brought before the highest bodies in the land. It is a plot that I have uncovered–exclusively–and threatens the future of labor. Here it is: no union should be allowed to hold a convention in a place that serves rum. You laugh, you […]

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    Well, we’re in the midst of the first day at the SEIU convention and a resolution is now on the floor called "Uniting Working People To Change Our Lives". The resolution essentially implements the "Justice For All" program. It’s a long resolution and I don’t have a copy of it electronically. But, an amendment […]

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    As you probably know, per the previous post, SEIU is arguing that the labor movement cannot be a movement that is just worrying about its members but has to press for "Justice For All". I don’t think it’s entirely fair to say that other unions don’t think they are improving the lives of other […]

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    I had an interesting discussion today at a press conference held by Sal Rosselli, president of United Healthcare Workers West, which represents 140,000 S.E.I.U. members in California, who, as many of you know, is the public face of a group of delegates and leaders who object to some of the positions, actions and vision […]

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    Okay, so, the convention of the Service Employees International Union has kicked off. I’ll be posting now and again–when I’m not drinking rum–when there is something interesting to say (and that is always open to interpretation).     For the time being, here is the Justice For All document that frames the general theme of […]

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    Ah, internal labor strife all around…I’m on my way to Puerto Rico for the SEIU convention where, I’m sure you’ve heard, there will be quite the debate. Every time I think about writing something about the debate in and around SEIU, I get a headache–partly from reading the shallow and knee-jerk coverage emanating from […]

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    One of the under-reported stories in America is the way in which the corporate thugs in their executive suites come up with new ways to screw people out of their pensions. Normally, what we get when the press covers pensions is the sky-is-falling story, which translates into "workers’ pensions are too generous and should […]

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    I don’t normally have particular interest in corruption charges against members of Congress–not that they shouldn’t go to jail, and, better yet, be tarred and feathered–it’s just that there is only so much time in the day, But, I’ve always made an exception for William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson, and we’ve been following his travails […]

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