The New York Times hit the nail on the head when it called for swift passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. In thoughtful analysis of workers' role in an economic recovery, The Times wrote:

The measure is vital legislation and should not be postponed. Even modest increases in the share of the unionized labor force push wages upward, because nonunion workplaces must keep up with unionized ones that collectively bargain for increases. By giving employees a bigger say in compensation issues, unions also help to establish corporate norms, the absence of which has contributed to unjustifiable disparities between executive pay and rank-and-file pay.

The Times understands that ensuring workers have the freedom to form unions is vital to rebuilding our middle class. Workers in unions earn 30 percent higher wages and are 59 percent more likely to have employer provided health coverage.

President-elect Obama and the new Congress should act with urgency to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure that workers, and not just CEOs, can benefit from the economic progress they help create.

Read the full editorial here.

P.S. Know someone else who should receive our updates on the Employee Free Choice Act? Tell your colleagues to sign up for these updates on this page: http://freechoice.seiu.org/page/s/freechoiceupdate

The failing state of our economy, skyrocketing costs of healthcare and the growing CEO-to-worker pay gap have combined to create a crisis. Collectively, these factors have become an impossible drain on the finances of working Americans and on our economy.

Americans have spoken powerfully for change and now expect action --action that will both revive our failing economy and rebuild it stronger and fairer for the future.

And we can't afford to wait....which is why SEIU will unveil a groundbreaking state-by-state effort to fight for immediate economic relief and recovery efforts, help fix the nation's broken healthcare system and ensure workers have freedom to choose a voice at work on a telephone press conference tomorrow, January 7, at 1:30 p.m. (EST).

Getting our economy on track now --and building an economy with strength that can last---means building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. We must act now to help President-Elect Obama:

• Pass an economic recovery plan to keep people working, create millions of new jobs, and maintain services for our communities.
• Pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure that workers, not just CEOs, can benefit from the economic progress they help create and advocate for the best quality for those they serve.
• Fix our healthcare system so that it lowers costs and provides quality, affordable health care for all.

Read the media advisory for more details about tomorrow's Change that Works campaign unveiling, including call-in information (for members of the media).

On Politico's The Arena, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger helps drive the conversation by giving us her boldest political predictions for 2009:

I predict that 2009 will be the "Year of the Middle Class." Voters have spoken powerfully for change and now expect action that both revives our failing economy and builds it stronger, and fairer, for the future. By rebuilding the American Dream for millions of families and rewarding work instead of one's wealth, greed or market manipulation, we can strengthen our economy for generations to come. [...] SEIU's members will help make 2009 the "Year of the Middle Class" by involving millions of Americans in an intensive state-by-state campaign to create an economy where hard work means you can make a good living and fulfill your dreams instead of treading water or falling behind.

Read the rest of Anna's reflections on the new year on Politico here.

NATIONAL SEIU NEWS:

Concessions Foreshadow a Tough Year for Unions
Wall Street Journal, Jan 4, 2009

Look for New Life in World of Obama
NY Times, Dec. 29, 2008

Boldest Political Prediction for 2009
Politico Arena, Dec. 31, 2008
By Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer

Physicians Rise Up to Save Primary Care
Medscape Today, Jan 2, 2009

Groups plan rallies promoting Obama plan
Boston Globe, Jan. 5, 2008

Responses Round-Up to Labor Secretary Announcement
Change We Can Believe In (Blog), Jan. 5, 2008

STATE-SPECIFIC and LOCAL SEIU CAMPAIGN NEWS:

Connecticut's New House Speaker Progressive, Practical
Hartford Courant, Jan 4, 2009

Kaleida union to vote on contract
The Buffalo News, Jan 5, 2009

Council agenda includes union, impeachment talks
The Rolla Daily News, Jan 4, 2009

Service union leaders consider consolidation
San Francisco Chronicle, Jan 3, 2009

Medical center is a providential option for residents
The Signal (CA), Jan 4, 2009

SEIU Leader Shares First-hand Experiences Trying to Organize Detroit Fast Food Workers in the 1980s

In 1980, the United Labor Unions set out to organize employees at Detroit fast food chains in the hopes of sparking a nationwide movement to unionize the workforce in this fast-growing industry. As a rookie organizer working on the campaign, I learned firsthand what is at stake when workers stand up for better wages, healthcare, and a voice on the job.

We started with a Burger King franchise in Detroit's Greyhound station. While the drive was a challenge, the spark spread between employees as they encouraged each other to join the union and stand up to their managers. Greyhound Food Management ran a tough campaign to keep workers from organizing -- threatening some, making promises to others -- but didn't succeed. By a margin of just one vote, the Burger King employees opted to create a union.

Encouraged by our victory, we shifted our focus to three McDonald's franchises on Detroit's North Side. The employees were struggling with all kinds of issues -- minimum wage violations, sexual harassment, unfair scheduling, and health and safety issues ranging from grill burns to meat slicer injuries. Fed up and fired up, they decided to organize a union and won overwhelming support from their co-workers. Nothing could stop them.

Or so they thought.

This morning SEIU unveiled online advertising to promote the New York Times' recent support of the early passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The ads are running on the websites of The Hill, Roll Call, Politico, the Washington Post, and progressive blogs (see the ad on the right).

In late December 2008, the New York Times editorialized about unions and the Obama Administration's commitment to labor. The paper gave a full-throated endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act and why it is such an important part of an economic recovery program.

The Times wrote of the Employee Free Choice Act:

The measure is vital legislation and should not be postponed. By giving employees a bigger say in compensation issues, unions also help to establish corporate norms, the absence of which has contributed to unjustifiable disparities between executive pay and rank-and-file pay. There is a strong argument that the slack labor market of a recession actually makes unions all the more important.

SEIU's online ads invite viewers to join the campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act.

SEIU members and supporters went to almost 100 McDonald's locations around the country on December 18 to speak directly with employees about free choice. We wanted to share some photos and video with you all from McDonald's visits that took place in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Detroit and Washington, DC.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Video Footage from McScrooged Actions by SEIU Healthcare PA, SEIU 32BJ and SEIU Healthcare Michigan

Healthcare workers, maintenance workers, allies, staff and friends of the SEIU 32BJ and SEIU Healthcare PA went to four McDonald's restaurants to spread the word on how McD's is fighting their own workers' rights to form unions -- and the rights of millions of other Americans -- by fighting the Employee Free Choice Act. This action (in video clip below) happened at a McDonald's at 17th and Walnut -- a busy locale, and an open forum for workers fighting for their right to form a union.

SEIU Healthcare Michigan members and staff leafleted and had conversations with employees, customers and managers at three Metro-Detroit area McDonalds.

Responses from customers and passersby were very positive and expressed outrage that McDonald's is spending millions to deny their workers a voice on the job, when they could be using that money to give their employees better wages and benefits. On the flip side...reactions from employees at the locations was, for the most part, very reserved. Could this have been from the intimidation of having a manager / supervisor standing directly by each worker taking food orders and even behind the drive-thru workers?

Folks who participated in the SEIU Healthcare Michigan McScrooged actions were of the opinion that the McDonald's locations they visited knew ahead of time that they were going to protest the franchise's attempts to deny workers a voice at their workplace, due to the numerous managers and supervisors present in the restaurants. One store had six managers on duty (along with the chain's owner present).

Nationwide Call for Artwork Submissions Highlighting Heath Care Reform, the Green Economy and Workers' Rights.

SEIU, MoveOn PAC, and Obey Giant are partnering with Manifest Hope:DC in launching a nationwide contest to gather the best work celebrating the grass roots campaign that helped elect Barack Obama as president. The contest is calling for entries of visual artwork that use positive messaging to convey the importance of encouraging a national dialogue focused on heathcare reform, the green economy and workers' rights. Five pieces in each of the three categories will be selected and reviewed by a panel of judges to include famed artist Shepard Fairey, film director Spike Lee, SEIU 775NW Healthcare President David Rolf and many more.

Entries for submission to this inspiring visual call-to-action are due by January 9. The artwork of the fifteen contest winners will be publicly displayed to DC area residents and the 2 million people expected to gather in Washington for Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration from Friday, January 16th, 2009 through Monday, January 19th, 2009. The exhibit will be showcased at Manifest Hope:DC (3333 M Street N.W., Washington, DC).

Art played an unprecedented role in this election--most of us will never forget many of the arresting visual images created by artists who dedicated themselves to helping spread Obama's prevailing message of Hope everywhere in our country and abroad. Help to capture and maintain the energy we have experienced in Barack Obama's momentous climb to the White House by spreading the word about this contest or submitting an entry.

This online contest offers artists the opportunity to make one submission per category, totaling a maximum of three submissions:

* Manifest Opportunity - Stimulating The Green Economy
* Manifest Change - Health Care Reform
* Manifest Unity - Protecting Workers' Rights

This will be the second art contest for Manifest Destiny in the last year, building on the success of the gallery showcase at the Democratic National Convention that helped spread the word about Barack Obama and the inspirational themes of his candidacy. (You can view artwork of the Denver contest finalists at MoveOn.org)

For more information, visit Manifest Hope:DC online at http://www.ManifestHope.com

'Twas the night before Christmas when Wal-Mart told the world it decided to settle 63 lawsuits to the tune of $640 million; most of those lawsuits alleged that Wal-Mart "underpaid its employees."

So what prompted the usually greedy Grinch to give more than half a billion dollars to its employees? It must've been a passing wind of Christmas Cheer, right?  No.

The Wall Street Journal says one reason Wal-Mart paid out $640 million is because the world's largest retailer wants to improve its image ahead of its fight against the Employee Free Choice Act.  Wal-Mart appears to be afraid of that legislation because it would give employees the free choice to join unions and negotiate for better wages, benefits, and retirement security - something Wal-Mart employees certainly don't have now.

Here's what the Wall Street Journal said about the settlements:

But there may be something else going on. Remember the Employee Free Choice Act? [...]

Paul M. Secunda, an associate professor at Marquette University Law School, suggested Wal-Mart wanted to settle the lawsuits not just to avoid potentially more costly defeats in the courtroom, but to resolve issues that might be used to argue for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation, expected to be considered by Congress next year, is fiercely opposed by Wal-Mart because the company worries it will make it easier for workers to unionize.

Wal-Mart is familiar with fighting the Employee Free Choice Act.  FEC complaints were filed against the company in August alleging that Wal-Mart told its employees to vote against Democrats such as now President-elect Barack Obama because of their support of the Employee Free Choice Act.  And current Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott told reporters this fall why he's against the Employee Free Choice Act.  From the WSJ:

Card check is about power. Management has it, workers don't, and business doesn't want that to change. Consider the remarks made by Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott at an analyst meeting on Oct. 28, when he was asked about the possible coming of [the Employee Free Choice Act]: "We like driving the car and we're not going to give the steering wheel to anybody but us."

But we will no longer get to enjoy the presence of Mr. Scott after February, as he is stepping down from leading the company in a surprise move announced just a month ago.  Long-time Wal-Mart operative Mike Duke will take over, giving Wal-Mart a fresh face to lead the company in 2009.  (And don't forget the company's brand new logo - goodbye smiley face, hello sunshine!)

Wal-Mart is evidently trying to spin itself a new image before it faces President-elect Obama and our new Congress to fight this important piece of our economic recovery program.

The Employee Free Choice Act can help raise wages and extend health insurance and retirement security to millions of people.  The New York Times, in an editorial this morning supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, said the Employee Free Choice Act is "vital legislation":

The measure is vital legislation and should not be postponed. Even modest increases in the share of the unionized labor force push wages upward, because nonunion workplaces must keep up with unionized ones that collectively bargain for increases. By giving employees a bigger say in compensation issues, unions also help to establish corporate norms, the absence of which has contributed to unjustifiable disparities between executive pay and rank-and-file pay. [...]

There is a strong argument that the slack labor market of a recession actually makes unions all the more important. Without a united front, workers will have even less bargaining power in the recession than they had during the growth years of this decade, when they largely failed to get raises even as productivity and profits soared. If pay continues to lag, it will only prolong the downturn by inhibiting spending.

So now we have the world's largest employer fighting a "vital" piece of an economic recovery program, just to keep its employees making $10.32/hr - while its current CEO makes in excess of $16,000/hr. 

Even with CEO Lee Scott, $640 million in settlements, and the infamous Smiley logo going out the door with 2008, there's not enough lipstick sold at every Wal-Mart in the world to make this pig pretty.

Please join our campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act to help millions of working people in these tough economic times.

Above photo from Creative Commons Flickr user Lone Primate.

Working Americans and health care consumers offer views & ideas on Obama health plan

Despite the busy holiday season, Americans throughout the country - from caregivers like nurses, doctors and pharmacists to ordinary health care consumers - have been gathering to hold their own health care meetings. You've brought your friends, your family, like-minded individuals, and even those who have different points of view together to share their ideas and input on health care reform that comes from the ground up.

News report after news report has been gracing our inboxes over the holiday season - from national papers like the New York Times to small, local papers from your areas.

Try this out - it's unbelievable:

1. Go to http://news.google.com. That's the Google News site.
2. Type in "obama health care discuss," and then click "search."
3. Voila! - that's right, there are that many articles that have been written about your health care discussions from around the country.

And it's not just the sheer volume of stories, it's what's contained within them. Each news story contains powerful anecdotes from meet-ups that include personal stories, concerns about the current health care system, and amazing recommendations and ideas on how to improve how we deliver care in this country.

We encourage you to read their reports in their own contexts. Because each and every meet-up has been a true discussion, picking and choosing small bits takes away from the power of reading them in their entirety - each is a portrait of our health care system.

Here are five highlights from the coverage:

1. New York Times: "At House Party on Health Care, the Diagnosis Is It's Broken"
2. San José Mercury News: "Citizens group answers Obama's call on health care"
3. Flint Journal (Michigan): "Health care reform topic of discussion at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Flint"
4. Norwalk News (Connecticut): "Group discusses U.S. health care"
5. The Herald-Mail (Maryland/West Virginia/Pennsylvania): "Group eyes big changes in health care"

We couldn't be more proud of the work that all of you are doing. You've taken the initiative, and this is the result. It's what real grassroots mobilization looks like. Keep it up!

(On a side note: We held our own health care meet-up here at SEIU a few weeks ago - read about the discussion and watch the video footage from the meet-up on SEIU's blog here).

There is a great editorial in The New York Times today on unions and the Obama Administration's commitment to labor--giving basically a full-throated endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act and why it is such an important part of an economic recovery program.

Employee Free Choice legislation:

"The measure is vital legislation and should not be postponed. Even modest increases in the share of the unionized labor force push wages upward, because nonunion workplaces must keep up with unionized ones that collectively bargain for increases. By giving employees a bigger say in compensation issues, unions also help to establish corporate norms, the absence of which has contributed to unjustifiable disparities between executive pay and rank-and-file pay."

"The argument against unions -- that they unduly burden employers with unreasonable demands -- is one that corporate America makes in good times and bad, so the recession by itself is not an excuse to avoid pushing the bill next year. The real issue is whether enhanced unionizing would worsen the recession, and there is no evidence that it would...Without a united front, workers will have even less bargaining power in the recession than they had during the growth years of this decade, when they largely failed to get raises even as productivity and profits soared."

"If Mr. Obama's campaign promises are to be kept, that mindset cannot prevail again. Mr. Obama's creation of a task force on middle-class issues, to be led by Vice President-elect Joseph Biden and including Ms. Solis and other high-ranking officials, is an encouraging sign that labor issues will not be given short shrift."

This morning, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial focusing on the uninsured and the incoming Obama Administration:

"So far, Obama is making all the right moves. Most important, he appears to be sticking to his first-year timetable - economic crisis or not."

The editorial lauds the nomination of former Senator Tom Daschle, stating that it's an indication that "the new administration plans to move boldly." Daschle, the piece states, is "well-versed in the ways of Congress, where Obama's reform will rise or fall," and that Daschle's plan to expand coverage while pulling the reins on health costs is a "workable strategy."

The piece also commends Obama on the health care meet-ups that have been taking place. Calling them a "smart move," the paper says that by "sampling public input on health care reform," the incoming administration will be able to "incorporate ideas from the grassroots" and learn from the "top-down" model that "helped sidetrack Clinton-era reform efforts."

The editorial board's conclusion?

"A can-do spirit and sense of urgency from a president-elect who wants 'change' are the best things America's uninsured have going for them."

Posting here on SEIU.org is going to be light for the next couple of weeks because of the holidays. A lot of our staff will be enjoying well-deserved time off from now through the New Year to rest, recharge and spend time with their families. Please look for us to be back up and running when we resume our normal schedule on Monday, January 5.

December's been an action-filled month here, but all of us here at SEIU know there's a lot of work yet to be done in 2009. Thank you to all of our members and everyone who's worked hard and supported us over the last year - we appreciate all that you do.

From all of us at SEIU to all of you, happy holidays!

Amidst retail sales reports, record snowfall and last minute shopping tips, no one expected "health care" to be gracing the headlines this week. But thanks to you and thousands like you, news outlets all across America -- from Chattanooga, Tennessee to St. George, Utah -- are buzzing with reports of your health care meet-ups.

Last week, SEIU staff convened a health care discussion of our own. Topics of conversation included "what's wrong with the current healthcare system?" and how policy can help address these problems. We decided to capture the meeting on video and wanted to share some highlights with you all. Watch here:

This is a busy time of year for all of us -- making it all the more impressive that thousands of Americans are hosting discussions in their homes and communities this week. Let's keep the momentum going right into the New Year. If you haven't yet attended or hosted a health care discussion, there's still time. Watch our video and sign-up today.

(You can view our hosting resource page, containing discussion guides and audio of our host conference call by clicking here.)

Otherwise, please use this form to report back to us on how your discussion went. And don't forget to submit your ideas for Inauguration Day!

According to the most recent estimates from the Census Bureau, 8.6 million children in the United States lacked health coverage in 2007. Last year, Congress debated and passed two pieces of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which would have reduced the number of uninsured children by almost half and expanded health coverage throughout the nation to as many as 4 million additional uninsured children. President Bush vetoed both bills.

According to Families USA, the vast majority of uninsured children come from families where at least one parent works (88.2 percent), and more than two-thirds of uninsured children--or 68.5 percent--live in households where at least one family member works full-time, year-round. And more than half of the nation's uninsured children come from low-income families with incomes below twice the poverty level, who are likely eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.

So although the Bush Administration proclaimed it would "leave no child behind" when it comes to education, 8.6 million American children - a majority of whom are from working families - are being left behind because they lack health coverage. "The sad reality is that kids who don't have health insurance are far more likely to get sidetracked--right at the beginning of their lives--because their families can't afford quality care," said SEIU Healthcare chair Dennis Rivera.

During the current economic downturn as working families are struggling to make ends meet, no one should have to choose between health care for their kids and making a mortgage or rent payment. Hopefully, things will be looking up for the nation's uninsured children in the near future, as the new Administration and president-elect Barack Obama are widely expected to push for eligibility expansions for SCHIP, which is up for reauthorization anyway in the spring.

Rising Tide of Support for SCHIP

Two-thirds of the public (82 percent) supports SCHIP renewal and extending children's health benefits to legal immigrant children, according to a poll released yesterday by child advocacy group First Focus. Key poll results also show that 67 percent of respondents favored eliminating the five-year waiting period for legal immigrant children, while 19 percent were opposed. [SCHIP is not available to legal immigrants during their first five years in the country, with the exception of those living in states that use state funds to cover legal immigrants who qualify.]

Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) hailed the poll as evidence of the nation's broad, bipartisan support for renewal of the SCHIP program, which expires in March, 2009.

Senator Harry Reid at the announcement:

"The findings announced today confirmed what we knew over a year ago - Americans support providing children with health care coverage and they understand the importance of removing the five-year waiting period for coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women."

Senator Rockefeller:

"I look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the Congressional leadership to quickly reauthorize CHIP so that millions of uninsured children - including legal immigrant children - receive the health coverage they need."

Poll respondents favored expanding SCHIP by a margin of 79-15 to ensure that all children in America, including legal immigrant children, have health care coverage.

"In the debate of 2007, Republicans used the coverage of legal immigrant children against expanding the children's health insurance program," said First Focus spokesperson Christopher Spina to CQ yesterday. "We clearly now see a mandate among the American people."

More findings from the First Focus poll.