Publication of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

Winter 2006 Volume 18, Number 4

UHW EXCLUSIVE Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Getting the House in order

THE NURSING HOME BATTLE:Nursing home workers put the

pedal to the metal and refuse totake NO for an answer

Members Lives:

“Our daughter went to the war front”

Hospitals:

VHS gains industry standards;Tenet workers fight for fair contract

INSIDE: 2007 Calendar pull-out!

Members Lives:

“Our daughter went to the war front”

Hospitals:

VHS gains industry standards;Tenet workers fight for fair contract

Our Executive BoardSal Rosselli, President, Oakland

Jorge Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Los Angeles

Joan Emslie, Secretary-Treasurer, San Jose

Vice PresidentsAnthony Aidukas, Desert Regional Medical Ctr., Palm Springs

Roberto Alvarez, Kaiser Bellflower

Nicolasa Arevalo, IHSS Provider, San Francisco

Juanita Barbarin, Retiree Chapter, Oakland

Derrick Boutte, Alameda County Medical Ctr., Oakland

William Brennan, Olympia Medical, Los Angeles

Mildred Brown, IHSS Provider, Contra Costa County

Pam Burton, Kaiser Sunset, Los Angeles

Lynn Arthur Bussey, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles

Robin Blake, Kaiser Fresno

Rosie Byers, Consortium, San Francisco

Roy Chaffee, Kaiser Vallejo

Yolanda Chavez, Kaiser Oakland

Teresita Collado, Kaiser Sunset

Rachel G. Coronado, HCA/Riverside Community Hospital, Los Angeles

Mary Corson, Kaiser Panorama City

Nancy Evans, Willow Pass Conv. Hospital, Concord

Michael Fenison, Centinela Freeman

Marilyn Freeman, Watts Health Foundation, Los Angeles

Florine Furlow, IHSS Fresno

Mary Ellen Garcia, Kaiser Hayward

Angela Glasper, Kaiser Martinez

Linda Gonzalez, HCA/Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose

Michelle Guzman, Kaiser San Francisco

Robert Hardebeck, Garden Grove Hospital

Robert Hernandez, Kaiser Baldwin Park

Miguel Holguin, St. Bernandine, Highland

Robyne Horn, Kaiser Santa Clara

Donald Hoskins, St. Mary’s Hospital, Los Angeles

Oletha Hunt, Laguna Honda Hospital, San Francisco

Gary Jackson, Dominican Hospital

Kim Jakab, Kaiser Sacramento

Derrell Joseph, Kaiser South Bay

Lover Joyce, Kaiser Walnut Creek

Deborah Kirtman, Alta Bates/Summit Medical Ctr., Oakland

Xiao Jiang Lai, IHSS, San Francisco

Stanley Lyles, CHW Northridge

Sharon Martinez, Mercy General Hospital

Inez Moreno, Mercy Southwest

Maya Morris, CHW St. Francis, San Francisco

Shirley Nelson, Kaiser Redwood City

Debbie Ortega, Kaiser Bellflower

Raisa Polonskaya, IHSS, San Francisco

Corey M. Puccinelli, Kaiser South Sacramento

Ella Raiford, Matilda Brown Home, Oakland

Eloise Reese-Burns, Cottonwood Health Care Ctr., Woodland

Frances Anne Regacho (Stepp), Kaiser Stockton

Michael Rivera, Tarzana Regional, Palmdale

Tena Robinson, IHSS, Sacramento

Brian Rollinson, Kaiser Santa Teresa

Ranell Ross, Doctor’s Manteca

Maria Samuel, Golden Gate Nursing Home, San Francisco

Lynn St.Clair, Kaiser Santa Rosa

Wanda Talton, Pacifica of the Valley, Lakeview Terrace

Michael Torres, USC University Hospital

Martha Vazquez, St. Joseph’s Medical Ctr., Stockton

Sally Vetsch, CHW Mercy Medical Ctr., Redding

Marie White, IHSS, Sonoma

Lori Whyman, Kaiser Tustin-Santa Ana

Kiana Williams, Kaiser West, Los Angeles

LaTasha Winslow-Beavers, Kaiser Rancho Cordova

Rebecca Worcester, Kaiser Sacramento

Mickiela Yagen, IHSS, Yolo

Helen York-Jones, California Pacific Medical Ctr., San Francisco

Administrative Vice PresidentsJohn Borsos, Sacramento; Victoria Cavarlez, Los Angeles; Leon Chow, San Francisco;

Will Clayton, Oakland; Ralph Cornejo, Oakland; Amado David, Los Angeles; Glenn

Goldstein, Oakland; Mary Ruth Gross, San Francisco; Paul Kumar, Oakland; Barbara

Lewis, Los Angeles; Dan Martin, Oakland; Pamela Martinez, Oakland; Rachel

Rodriguez, Fresno; Margaret Segura, Los Angeles; Dana Simon, Oakland

SEIU United Healthcare Workers – West

www.SEIU-UHW.org union@seiu-uhw.org

Volume 18, Number 4. Copyright December 2006. All rights reserved.Unity is the official periodical publication of

SEIU United Healthcare Workers–West, Change to Win Coalition,CLC. It is edited and produced at UHW’s Oakland office.

Contributors: Nick Fynn, TadzioGarcia, Vaishalee Raja

UUnniittyy Editor: Ernesto MoraUUnniittyy Designer: Jen SlusserAdministrative Asst.: Michelle Ashe

Bakersfield1701 Westwind Dr. #228

Bakersfield CA 93301

661-324-2386

Fax: 661-324-2412

Fresno1279 N. Wishon Avenue

Fresno CA 93728

Toll-free: 888-688-7250

Fax: 559-469-0520

Oxnard2362 N. Oxnard Blvd. #108

Oxnard CA 93036

805-981-2245

Fax: 805-604-7646

Redding1135 Pine Street, #15

Redding CA 96001

530-241-2815

Fax: 530-241-6204

Riverside4336 Market St

Riverside CA 92501

951-784-4698

Fax: 951-784-4699

Sacramento1911 F Street

Sacramento CA 95814

916-326-5850

Toll-free: 877-768-6466

Fax: 916-447-9405

SEIU United Healthcare Workers’ mission is to unite all healthcare

workers to change their lives and to win universal access to quality

healthcare for all children, women and men.

Oakland560 Thomas L. Berkley Way

Oakland CA 94612

510-251-1250 / Toll-free: 800-585-4250

Fax: 510-763-2680

San Bernardino 1264 S. Waterman Ave #33

San Bernardino CA 92408

909-890-3580

Fax: 909-890-3566

San Diego3737 Camino Del Rio S #207

San Diego CA 92108

619-285-3911

Fax:

San Francisco1338 Mission Street

San Francisco CA 94103

415-441-2500

Fax: 415-563-9914

San Jose2995 Moorpark Way

San Jose CA 95128

408-557-2835

Toll-free: 800-224-0250

Fax: 408-557-2844

Santa Rosa1708 Corby Avenue

Santa Rosa CA 95407

707-526-4825

Fax: 707-526-1851

Stockton306 E. Main Street #305

Stockton CA 95202

209-944-8001

Fax: 209-944-8010

Los Angeles5480 Ferguson Dr

Los Angeles CA 90022

323-734-8399/Toll-Free: 877-734-8399

Fax: 323-721-3538

Northern California Headquarters: Southern California Headquarters:

UNITED FOR QUALITY HEALTH CARE

Local Offices Statewide:

The magazine for SEIU UHW-WEST Members

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SECTION HEADER

INSIDE

4 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE: The greater the challenges, the sweeter our victories

5 2006 NOVEMBER ELECTION: Working families lead congressional upheaval

6 NANCY PELOSI: The new Speaker of the House talks with UHW

10 HOSPITAL DIVISION: System-wide pact for VHS workers; Up in arms at Tenet

11 IHSS: Heart to Heart: Your fight is my fight

12 KAISER DIVISION: Interview with 2 Kaiser activists

13 MEMBERS LIVES: My daughter went to Iraq

14 HEALTHCARE REFORM: Principles to advance in 2007-2008

15 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PICNIC: Merry in San Dimas Park

16 CONTINUING EDUCATION: Available seminars

this issue

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ON THE COVER NURSING HOME DIVISION: Taking the gloves off

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From the beginning we knew 2006 would be an eventful year. The yeardid not disappoint, and there’s much UHW members can take pride in. As2006 drew to a close, things looked good on every front for our union.

In the political arena, even if we fell short of defeating ArnoldSchwarzenegger, UHW members and other American working families elect-ed a Democratic Congress that will move forward on healthcare, the minimumwage, making it easier for workers to join unions, and the war in Iraq.

As Californians, we are proud to have our friend, Democratic leaderNancy Pelosi, as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. SpeakerPelosi has vowed to restore ethics to Congress. And our friends,Representatives George Miller, Peter Stark, and Barbara Lee – all of whomexpressed gratitude to UHW members for their help in the election – willalso be playing leadership roles in the nes Congress. Special mention needsto be made about our efforts to unseat Republican Richard Pombo, one ofthe most corrupt members of the House of Representatives.

Our Convalescent Division has concluded contracts for nearly 100 nurs-ing homes that improve working conditions and allow our members toenjoy the fruits of AB 1629, which passed thanks to our legislative action.Members with contract settlements at these facilities share a common expi-ration date and a single bargaining unit arrangement for all workersemployed by the same company. In addition, the agreements provideimprovements in health insurance, the SEIU pension plan, contributions toour industry-wide training and education fund, wage increases of $2-3 perhour. At its November Steward Council meeting, the division’s shop stew-ards adopted a 20-month plan to organize 50 non-alliance nursing homesbefore the end of 2008.

This summer, together with SEIU Local 121, we were able to negotiate aretiree health insurance benefit for nearly 14,000 workers statewide withCatholic Healthcare West. That victory was part of mid-contract re-opener.

Following the CHW victory, we won a tremendous settlement with theworld's largest for-profit healthcare company, HCA. Again, in conjunctionwith Local 121, we won our first statewide master agreement at HCA's fiveCalifornia hospitals that includes wage increases exceeding 40% over theterm of the contract, a real voice in staffing, along with strong job securityprotections and the right of unorganized workers to join our union withoutemployer opposition.

Finally, we won another master agreement, with Local 121, this time withthe Valley Health Systems in Riverside County. Coming on the heels of theHCA settlement, the Valley agreement demonstrates to the industry ourvision of setting standards throughout California. Our Homecare Divisionsuccessfully hammered out contracts with Fresno, Sacramento, and SanJoaquin Counties that provide substantial wage increases and improvementsto In Home Supportive Services caregivers. None of this came without polit-

ical mobilization. In the end, UHW homecare workers got county authori-ties to set aside money for these improvements, making the counties eligiblefor matching federal and state funds that will inject substantial money intotheir local economies. In the words of an IHSS consumer, these improve-ments set a major change in the quality of life of those who get assistance andthose who provide it. That the governor vetoed six bills that would have ben-efited IHSS providers and consumers alike has only strengthened our mem-bers' resolve to continue the struggle for better conditions.

Kaiser workers are moving into the second year of the UHW contractthat provided significant improvements and implemented some innovativeideas, such as “unit-based teams and contract specialists.” Currently, 20stewards are working full time as “contract specialists” in the administrationof the union contract to create an environment where members take chargeof the union. Additionally, members in each department will develop "unit-based teams” where they will meet with management to improve theirworking environment and deal with the challenges that Kaiser will face inthe next two years.

Thanks to the efforts of our organizing staff and the MemberOrganizing Committee participants, thousands of workers have joined usin the struggle for better industry standards. Workers launched campaignsand won union elections at CHW’s French and Marian Hospitals, HCA’sWest Hills professional unit, Antelope Valley, Pacifica, Sutter Solano,Community and Mission, Hemet Valley, Moreno Valley, Children’sOakland, and Sierra HealthCare.

In non-traditional fashion, however, and thanks to contract provisionsnegotiated with employers, we used card check certification to win repre-sentation for the Valley Health System service and clerical workers. We alsowon the right to represent workers at Kaiser’s medical practice offices inVentura County.

Our Organizing Department is looking to unionize 20,000 new mem-bers in 2007 and we need to continue the fight against those unscrupulousemployers that try to intimidate workers who want to join the union, suchas Saint Joseph’s Memorial employees in Santa Rosa and Petaluma.

All in all, it’s safe to say we have many significant victories to celebrate onthe second anniversary of our union. To continue to move ahead, we needto remain involved, and engage yet more members in the political process aswell as in organizing campaigns and bargaining efforts. Each of us has a spe-cial talent to contribute to make our union stronger.

In the New Year, we’ll continue to confront many challenges, bothexpected and unexpected. But UHW members have never faltered andthrough our combined efforts we seldom fail. Together, we will make 2007a more successful year for UHW members and our families. Happy NewYear to all.

President’s perspectiveThe greater the challenges, the sweeter our victories

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2006 ELECTION WRAP-UP

On November 7, working families made his-tory, toppling the entrenched leadership of boththe House and the Senate, and electing new lead-ers to move the country forward on healthcare,Iraq, restoring ethics to Congress, and other keyissues. After twelve years of Republican rule,Congress now has a Democratic majority andworking families face new opportunities to moveour issues forward, and hold employers and anti-worker politicians accountable.

UHW members worked hard to win key vic-tories across California, volunteering countlesshours of phone banking and neighborhood can-vassing to get out the vote. UHW volunteerslogged over 6,000 volunteer shifts, and nearly14,000 UHW members and family memberswere identified as supporters of candidatesendorsed by working families. In sum, UHWrepresented more than half of the 2006 SEIUCalifornia volunteer contingent.

KEY ALLIES WIN THEIR RACES

Perhaps in one of the most significant histori-cal developments, Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi,a close ally of UHW who personally helpedstriking UHW members to reach an industrystandard agreement with Sutter in 2005, willbecome the first woman Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives in U.S. history.

And even though Phil Angelides was unableto unseat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, most of

the other statewide candidates endorsed byUHW won their races. John Garamendi was

elected lieutenant governor, UHW-endorsed Debra Bowen became secretaryof state after defeating the incumbent, while

Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown was electedCalifornia attorney general, and Bill Lockyer

was elected state treasurer. Most criticallyfor our UHW homecare providers, John

Chiang was elected state controller.UHW members volunteered in droves and

help win a major upset in California’s 11thCongressional District, where Democrat JerryMcNerney defeated anti-worker CongressmanRichard Pombo, who had been named one of the13 most corrupt members of Congress.

LOCAL RACES: MORE VICTORIES

In Richmond, City Councilmember GayleMcLaughlin, who supported UHW members atSan Pablo’s Doctors Regional Center, defeatedincumbent Irma Anderson. In Fresno, UHWand the Fresno Teachers Association led the wayin electing a slate of worker-friendly educators tothe Fresno Unified School District Board. There,worker forces put together a bipartisan group ofpro-worker candidates—including Cal Johnson,Republican Valerie Davis, Tony Vang andMichelle Arax Asadoorian—that defeated theslate of pro-business and anti-worker candidates.This victory is crucial as we continue to buildpower for Fresno healthcare workers.

In Los Angeles, UHW efforts focused on thelabor-to-labor campaign of the L.A. CountyFederation of Labor, Strengthening Our Lives(SOL), and SEIU’s African-American voter proj-ects. Lost-timers from Kaiser Orange Countyhelped lead the effort to re-elect Richard Chavez,a union ally, to the Anaheim City Council. Thisrace, along with the 34th Senate District racewhere Lou Correa won, made Orange County amajor focus of the SOL program.

And Pam Torliatt, a close UHW ally, won herrace for mayor of Petaluma and shall continue tobe a strong supporter of UHW’s North Bayorganizing efforts.

2006 November Election:

Working families leadcongressional upheaval

Heralding a new era in political activism, members ofat least 13 SEIU locals from across the country, includ-ing UHW, attended the first national SEIU RepublicanActivists Conference late last September inWashington, D.C. Seven UHW members were part ofthe two-day event where they pledged to build newalliances in their communities and work together withother union members.

In the opening session, UHW participants heard SEIUPresident Andy Stern emphasize that unions shouldn’tfocus strictly on party politics so much as on the issuesthat affect workers. Members participated in severalworkshops about lobbying before actually going toCapitol Hill to meet with congressional leaders.

“It’s fantastic that our International has the fore-sight to include its Republican members and getthem become politically active,” said Judy Keifer, aFresno homecare provider and life-long Republicanwho attended the founding event.

Challenging the traditional view that Republicansoppose unions, participants agreed that workersneed to fight for wages, benefits and the policiesthat affect working families.

The UHW contingent also included Ray Van Ocker,COPE chair at Kaiser Santa Theresa: Donna Haferfrom the JFK Memorial Hospital (in Indio); SandraKober and Susan Reddell from Catholic HealthcareWest; Nicole Hanson from Woodland Healthcare;and Phyllis Cunningham.

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

In the November 7 elections for the Fresno UnifiedSchool District Board, UHW played a crucial role incobbling together a slate of bipartisan candidateswho were in support of worker rights. The list –which included Republican Valerie Davis, andDemocrats Cal Johnson, Tony Vang and Michelle AraxAsadoorian – defeated the slate of pro-business andanti-worker candidates orchestrated by DemocratAssemblyman Juan Arambula.

“If we work together, we can hold elected officialsaccountable – irrespective of their party affiliation –to the people who put them in office,” Keifer said,adding that she’s ready to take on GovernorSchwarzenegger any time he attempts to underminethe In Home Supportive Services and attack home-care workers, as he’s done in the past.

SEIU REPUBLICANACTIVISTS

I

VOTED!

CHANGECOURSE!

Voters send a message:

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1. The number of Americans without health insurance is grow-ing, while millions with a plan pay more for less. What stepswill the new Congress take to address this crisis?

Making health care affordable for all Americans is a top priority forthe new Congress. Central to this is addressing the needs of nearly 47million uninsured Americans, strengthening the Medicare systemthrough a fair and meaningful prescription drug benefit, and givingpatients the clout to challenge the decisions of health insurers.

Democrats will begin by reducing the cost of prescription drugs,requiring Medicare to leverage its bargaining power and negotiatelower prices with drug companies. In the first 100 hours, we will

remove the prohibition against government negotiation and man-date that the Secretary of Health and Human Services must nego-tiate for lower prices with the drug industry.

Democrats will ensure access to prescription drugs. We will stopdrug plans from increasing co-payments and creating burdensomeadministrative hurdles during the year, when beneficiaries are notallowed to change plans.

2. What will the new Congress do to ensure that all workerscan retire with dignity?

Democrats will guarantee a dignified retirement, and we willbegin by fighting any attempt to privatize Social Security.Privatization entails steep benefit cuts and billions of dollars inincreased debt. Democrats are committed to a bipartisan approachtoward strengthening Social Security and ensuring that seniorsreceive the guaranteed benefits they have earned.

Over a year ago, Democrats presented AmeriSave, a plan forretirement security that embodies our commitment to middle-classfamilies by providing them with the tools they need to achieveretirement security. AmeriSave will help middle-class families buildretirement security by expanding opportunities to save, and ensur-ing pension fairness, guaranteeing workers receive the benefits thatthey have been promised after a lifetime of hard work.

Our plan will expand and improve existing investment accounts,such as 401(k)s and IRAs, so that American families can benefitfrom compound interest while retaining Social Security’s guaran-teed benefit, creating a comprehensive retirement strategy.

UHW EXCLUSIVE Speaker Nancy P“WITHIN THE FIRST 100 LEGISLATIVEHOURS, THE NEW CONGRESS WILL:

• Drain the swamp – by breaking the linkbetween lobbyists and legislation and com-mit to pay-as-you-go budgeting, no newdeficit spending;

• Make America more secure – by implement-ing the independent 9/11 Commission rec-ommendations;

• Give Americans a raise – by increasing theminimum wage;

• Make college more affordable – by cuttingthe interest rate in half on federally subsi-dized student loans;

• Make health care more affordable – bynegotiating for lower prescription drug prices;

• End subsidies for Big Oil; and• Give hope to families with devastating dis-

eases – by allowing stem cell research.”

_____ON HEALTH PROGRAMS_____“Congress will also reauthorize the State Children’s HealthInsurance Program in 2007. By working with the BushAdministration we hope to make significant progresstoward lowering the number of uninsured children.We need to invest in better management of chronic dis-ease, through prevention and health technology. About 20 percent of the Medicare population with five ormore chronic diseases spends almost 70 percent of thedollars. We need to assist the elderly in managing thosediseases more effectively and also preventing those con-ditions in the first place.”

A long-time supporter of our union, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave aninterview for our members. It’s the first time a Speaker of the House ofRepresentative grants this honor to a union magazine.

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3. Will the new Congress address the challenge of funding andreforming our nation’s long-term care system?

The new Congress will be holding hearings to determine whatneeds to be done to reform our long-term care system. Right now,Medicaid has become the nation’s primary long-term care system.We need to improve that program and we need to begin by buildingthe case for legislation through hearings.

4. What are the prospects that the new Congress approves acomprehensive immigration reform package?

When I spoke to the President shortly after the election, weagreed on the need to move forward on bipartisan and comprehen-sive immigration reform. The new Congress can expect to see abipartisan and bicameral effort to pass comprehensive immigrationreform in the upcoming year. It will require a lot of hard work, andwe are ready to work hard on this issue with you.

5. Will Congress make sure to include strong labor protectionsand other fair trade principles in future trade agreements?

Our current trade model under the Bush Administration is flawed.Trade should help raise living standards both in the U.S. and abroad.To ensure fair trade, we must include enforceable workers’ rights inthe text of these agreements. Otherwise, we will accelerate a “race tothe bottom” where the most vulnerable are harmed and left behind.Democrats believe that we achieve the right type of balance so thatfree and fair trade benefits everyone, not just the privileged few.

6. Will Congress recommit our nation to strong environmentalprotections?

The Democratic-led Congress will push back vigorously againstthe Administration’s assault on environmental laws, regulations, andinternational agreements. Americans believe strongly in environ-mental protection and reject the contention that there is a trade-offbetween the economy and the environment. The President will bestymied in his ability to push anti-environmental legislationthrough Congress. It is likely that he will continue to press the lim-its of his regulatory powers to weaken environmental protection;Democrats will be able to use the majority’s oversight powers toshine the light of day on these nefarious actions.

7. What's the significance - to you personally, to women gener-ally, and to the entire country - of your having become the firstwoman Speaker of the House in U.S. history?

When my colleagues elected me Speaker, we didn’t just break through aglass ceiling; it was a marble ceiling. It was more than 200 years of history,with an established pecking order – and I cut in line.

I believe the floodgates of women in power have now opened – and I amso proud we will soon have 90 women serving in Congress. I think it sendsa message to all women that if this can happen, anything can happen.

Increasing the number of women in Congress is critical becausewomen bring something unique to the table. Any discussion of the

most serious issues facing our country is enhanced by diversity atthe table – diversity of gender, diversity of ethnicity, and diversity ofopinion. But we are making progress - after every election Congresslooks more and more like America.

8. What advice do you have for working women with family obli-gations who want to become more active or take leadershiproles in their union or in politics?

I’m a mother of five and a grandmother of six and being a moth-er is my highest priority. I didn’t run for Congress until my youngestchild was almost ready to graduate from high school. But much haschanged since I first ran in 1987, and equality continues to movecloser within our grasp. While being a woman in our society has itsspecial challenges, fuller participation of women can only meanwe are more effective in meeting the needs of all Americans.

When people ask me for one piece of advice on whether or notthey should run for office, I tell them, ‘Just run, just do it.’ It iscritical that our perspective is part of the decision-makingprocess and I encourage more mothers to take on leadershiproles in their community.

elosi: Getting the House in order

_____ON UNIONS_____“Unions such as SEIU won great gains for women, work-ers of color, and farm workers. They instituted new rulesto secure pensions, and new laws to govern workplacesafety and health. They ushered in a new era in whichpublic employees gained the right to organize, and thenjoined unions in record numbers. It is an achievement Iknow well, because my father, Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.,was the first Baltimore Mayor to institute collective bar-gaining for city employees, and the first mayor to appointa city commissioner of labor.These victories didn’t just benefit union workers, they bene-fited all workers. Labor worked to put America in the lead.Millions of working men and women face that challengeevery day, whether they work at Wal-Mart or at thousandsof other anti-union workplaces across this country. Thoseworkers share a commitment to our most basic labor prin-ciple: the right to join a labor union.In fact, 57 million American workers say they would join aunion if they had the chance. But too often, they faceharassment, intimidation, and coercion when they try toexercise that right. That is why Democrats are fighting topass the Employee Free Choice Act, introduced by GeorgeMiller in the House and Ted Kennedy in the Senate. Thisbill is a promise – it says that when a majority of workerssay they want a union, they will get a union.”

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NURSING HOME DIVISION

As nursing home caregivers march fromone victory to the next, they've come torealize that employers are bargaining

hard at the table to hold on to as much of the $1 bil-lion in AB 1629 funds that UHW and SEIU 434Bmembers fought so hard to secure for the industrylast spring.

UHW members have begun to settle contracts inconvalescent homes at neck-breaking pace. Sincelast reported in Unity, more than 50 nursing skillfacilities employing 2,500 workers have signed onto the industry standard established last Marchwith the California Nursing Home Alliance, astatewide coalition of convalescent home owners.

But employers have been dragging their feet, forcingmembers to fight for the recent contract victories.

"When they refuse to share their profits and thefunds gained through our work to pass AB 1629,they give us no choice but to take a strike vote andserve them notice," said CNA Mary Mundy, shopsteward at the Thekkek-owned La Mariposa nurs-ing home in Fairfield. And that is precisely what hercoworkers and members at Family Senior Care did.

Brazen employers v. sharing employees

Some companies, like Family Senior Care, werebrazen enough as to demand the right to changeany part of the health plan without previously noti-

Nursing home workers put pedal to the metalTaking off the gloves

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NURSING HOME DIVISION

fying the union. "They called it flexible insur-ance," said Flor Sarpolio, a negotiating com-mittee member and shop steward at thecompany's Skyline facility in San Jose.

"That was a slap in the face," said MiguelPérez, shop steward at Family's Almadenfacility, also in San Jose. But caregiverswould have none of that.

"Health plan costs are outrageous," Perezpointed out, "and our members don't wantto pay more money out of their pockets."

In the end, workers prevailed andThekkek, Sava, Family Senior Care, andPleasant Care agreed to the 80/20 mini-mum split of the health plan established inthe multi-employer negotiations last spring,and in some cases better. The new contractsalso provide across-the-board increases of$2.25-$3.00 an hour over the next twoyears, while strengthening the roles of shopstewards and barring employers from sub-contracting bargaining unit jobs.

To their credit, Family Senior Care work-ers raised the stakes and, although theywould like to see an increase in their pen-sion contributions, they asked the companyto establish a pension for its Pine Ridge andCreek Side employees, who had none.

"They are our brothers and sisters and wecan't leave them behind," Sarpolio insisted."If we stick together, next time we go toSacramento to get more Medi-Cal fundsour contingent will be bigger," she said.

It's all about politics - and about readiness

"We need to make sure that we get themoney we got for the hospitals," Mundy saidthe day Unity found her at her facility'sbreak room, where she asked her coworkersto sign up for COPE contributions duringthe contract ratification vote.

Because AB 1629 sunsets in 2008, UHWmembers understand that they have to con-tinue to apply political pressure, ConvalescentDivision Director John Vellardita explained,noting that COPE sign-ups at recent con-tract ratification meetings in nursing homeshas surpassed 50 percent.

"Make no mistake," Vellardita said. "Ourmembers understand that this is all aboutpolitics. They know we had to mobilize toget AB 1629 passed, and there has beenongoing political mobilization to see thefruits of AB 1629 – both in Sacramento andat every negotiating table. And they knowthey'll have to mobilize again."

But while negotiations are still pending atother worksites, some companies have out-right refused to improve working conditions.

"Companies can afford this contract andthey'll be able to afford even better ones,"said Nursing Home Assistant DirectorCharlie Ridgell, the chief UHW negotiator.Eventually, nursing home workers need tomatch the same income and working condi-tions of acute care hospitals, Ridgell said.

If past events are any indication, employ-ers are only buying themselves some timebefore their inevitable retreat.

Opposite page: CNA Mary Mundy of Thekkek-owned LaMariposa nursing home. This page, clockwise from the top:Maclovio Hernández, laundry worker at Family Senior Care’sSkyline facility in San Jose; workers from Windsor’s facility inConcord demanding a new contract; Flor Sarpolio, Sklyline’sshop steward and member of the negotiating committee.

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Almost 10,000 members of UHW andSEIU 121RN are stepping up thepressure on Tenet and former Tenet

hospitals in order to reach an agreement thatimproves conditions substantially.

“We are united in our fight to improve standardsin the healthcare industry by proposing a mastercontract for 14 Tenet hospitals,” says Julio Estradaof USC University Hospital in Los Angeles. TheTenet contracts run out at the end of 2006.

In preparation for negotiations, thousands ofcaregivers filled out contract surveys that showedthat wage improvements and better retirementand health benefits are a high priority for them.

“This will not only help the hospital to retainstaff but also to recruit qualified personnel forour patients”, said Roxanne Ingram of TwinCities Community Hospital in Templeton.

The surveys also showed that workers wantbetter contract language regarding job security,Labor/Management and patient care commit-tees, safer working conditions and employercontributions to the UHW Joint EmployerEducation Fund, which would offer employeesopportunities for career advancement.

Reaching out to communities

Caregivers from former Tenet Communityand Mission Hospitals in Huntington Parkheld a candlelight vigil on December 12 to voicetheir concerns about safe staffing levels, loss ofjobs and alleged shortages of critical supplies attheir hospitals. Community leaders and electedofficials joined the event.

“Our communities deserve better,” said GilbertZamora, a radiologist at Mission Hospital. “Theyneed hospitals that ensure safer and higherstandards of patient care.”

More than 700 UHW caregiversfrom Hemet Valley MedicalCenter and Moreno Valley

Community Hospital reached a system-wide, four-year agreement with the ValleyHealth System (VHS), which provides realgains for healthcare workers and the patientsthey care for. Caregivers at the two hospitals hadto fight hard for key contract improvements.

The settlement was made possible afterUHW opposed a hospital district bond meas-ure in September after the district spurned theunion’s offer to work cooperatively.

“We think this contract sets a foundationfor caregivers to work with the hospital toprovide high quality and recruit and retainexperienced staff,” stated UHW VicePresident John Borsos, the lead union nego-tiator. “With this foundation, the hospitaldistrict now has a new openness to hear ourconcerns and is willing to work with us inorder to pass a bond that will ensure thelong-term survival of our facilities.”

The new contract, which expires on June20, 2010, stipulates across-the-board increasesof 5.5 percent for the first year (retroactive toJuly 1, 2006), 5.7 percent in the second year;and 4 percent in the third and fourth years. Inaddition, VHS will adopt a wage scale in 2008that will provide significant increases toemployees in all classifications. In total, work-ers stand to gain close to a 35 percent increasein wages over the next four years.

The contract also provides fully employer-paid insurance and other improvements, includ-ing a clause regarding job security, a defined-

benefit pension plan, a patient care committee,and access to training for employees.

Looking out for patients“We will now be able to advocate for our

patients and make real improvements thatwill ensure the continued delivery of qualitycare,” said James Fellows, an emergency roomtechnician at Moreno Valley CommunityHospital. “With our new patient care com-mittee we can work directly with manage-ment to find creative and innovative solutionsto patient care concerns. We look forward toworking with management to provide thebest possible care for patients.”

Helen Onstott, a member at Hemet ValleyMedical Center, added: “Our contract pre-serves living-wage jobs in our community –wages that keep up with the cost of living.”

Update: clerical, service workers join UHWNearly 100 clerical and service workers at

VHS recently joined UHW thanks to thecard check procedure guaranteed in the newlysigned contract. A state mediator certified theunion victory. This brings the total UHWmembership at VHS facilities to almost 800.

“We won a great contract together with care-givers in the Moreno Valley CommunityHospital,” said John Quinoy, a central supplyaide at Hemet Valley. This is the second con-tract for caregivers at Moreno Valley, and thefirst for those at Hemet Valley, who joinedUHW earlier this year. Four hundred newUHW members at VHS’s Menifee ValleyMedical Center will also be covered by the newagreement.

HOSPITAL DIVISION

Workers at Tenet andformer Tenet hospitalsunite to win

agreement for VHS workersSystem-wideSystem-wide Members of UHW and 121RN from El Monte Community

Hospital and Garfield Medical Center meet to prepare for Tenetnegotiations.

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HOMECARE DIVISION

“She gave me back my life,” said Betty Leeabout UHW member and In HomeSupportive Services provider Mickiela Yagen,the day both women went to Sacramento toprotest Gov. Schwarzenegger’s veto of severalbills that directly impact the pay and trainingof IHSS workers.

A 76-year-old cancer survivor, Lee used tovolunteer helping the elderly and the disabledand knows first-hand the value of IHSSproviders. Today, even though she cannotlook after herself, she refuses to be institu-tionalized in a convalescent home. Moreimportantly, she refuses to give up the fightfor what she thinks is decent, right and fair.

“It’s important for me to feel independ-ent, and Mickiela provides me with boththe care I need and the freedom of being inmy own home.”

At the Sacramento event, both womenstood in front of the crowd of IHSS con-sumers, advocates and supporters congre-gated at the steps of the state Capitol todenounce the governor’s policies againstCalifornia’s long-term care system.

Thrust into the battlefield

A member of the UHW Executive Boardand a Sacramento native, Yagen was a retailmanager until her parents fell seriously ill 14years ago and she quit her job to look after them.She soon realized she liked the commitment of

caring for others. A mother of three grown chil-dren and a grandmother of eight, today Yagencares for three consumers to make ends meet.

“I devote more hours to this job than I ampaid for,” she said.“But if I have to take Bettyto the doctor, I’ll do it, pay or no pay. Sheneeds me, end of story.”

“I never asked anything from the govern-ment,” Lee said. But cancer pushed her tothe brink five years ago.

As Betty’s cancer worsened”, Mickielaappeared in my life at a crucial time.”

Both women know the governor has littleinterest on keeping the IHSS operational and

they have vowed to join every rally at theCapitol to improve IHSS workers conditions.

Strong union supporter

Even though the IHSS program saves mil-lions of dollars in long-term care lost to thestate, Schwarzenegger has tried three timesto reduce the wages and benefits of IHSSworkers since the recall election in 2003.

“If it were up to him,” said Yagen, “hewould do away with IHSS.”

The governor cares little about workingpeople, the elderly or people with disabili-ties, Lee agreed. Her commitment to thefight for better conditions for workers is nota recent development in her life, however.

“I was a child when the United MineWorkers of America was expanding acrossthe country,” said Lee, reaching for a photo-graph of her mom and dad, a Pennsylvaniacoal mining family in the 1930s, when theminers won the right to form unions andbargain collectively with employers.

“People need unions to fight injustice inthe workplace,” Lee said, holding her par-ents’ photo with pride. “That’s why I joinMickiela in her struggles.”

UHW and the Sacramento IHSS PublicAuthority (PA) have reached an agreement for anew contract that expires November 30, 2009.Effective January 1, 2007, wages will increasefrom $10.00 an hour to $10.40 an Hour, with awage re-opener for fiscal year 2008-2009 if theState increases its matching funds. It was alsoagreed that, for those under the Kaiser medicalplan, the PA will pick up the full $76 per monthincrease effective this January, while caregiversco-payment stays at $15 throughout the year.The county will pay for increases to the Kaiserplan by increasing its healthcare contribution to70 cents per hour, up from 60 cents. If theamount set aside doesn't cover increases in theKaiser plan for 2008, UHW will re-open negotia-tions over the health plan. "Considering that,Governor Schwarzenegger and the countyplayed hardball with IHSS workers, we got amore-than-fair contract," said Mary Williams, aUHW shop steward who was member of thenegotiating committee.

AGREEMENT REACHED

‘Your fight is my fight’HEART-TO-HEART:

UHW member Mickiela Yagen with IHSS consumerBetty Lee during a rally in Sacramento.Bottom: Betty Lee displays a photo of her parents, acoal mining family in Pennsylvania’s Appalachia.

‘Your fight is my fight’

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KAISER DIVISION

“This election was a big eye opener,” said Torill Harge,reflecting on what the Democratic Nov. 7 electoral vic-tory means for the country.

An administrative assistant in pediatrics at Kaiser San Francisco, Hargewas part of a vast contingent of UHW volunteers who phone-banked andcanvassed neighborhoods across California to make people aware of theissues affecting them and the nation in the election. In her 37 years as aUHW member, it was the first time Harge participated in the union’s polit-ical efforts. She’s sure it won’t be the last.

Torill’s strongest motivation to get involved is the nation’s healthcarecrisis. “I believe healthcare is a right,” said the Oslo, Norway native whobecame a citizen 22 years ago.

“You realize people are thirsty for information,” she said about herexperiences in phone banking. “It helps them make an educated vote.”

Precinct walking afforded her the possibility of seeing how otherworkers—including members of unions—live and how much needs tobe done so that all can enjoy the best this country has to offer.

“Now I know from experience—you canmake a difference when you’re an activist,” shesaid, pointing out that San FranciscoRepresentative Nancy Pelosi is in line to be the first woman Speaker ofthe House of Representatives. “Together, with members of UHW andother unions, I feel I was part of this historic achievement.”

Zina McClendon, a chief steward at Kaiser LosAngeles Medical Center, is a ward clerk transcriberwhose job keying information about each patient’s

chart is critical for the hospital. Just as critical for her, however,is to know that UHW members have a chance to be politicallyactive during the elections. A mother of a 19-year-old collegestudent, Zina, who has been at the same Hospital for 22 years,only started doing political work in the last three years.

“It moves me the way the union is committed to campaigningfor candidates that are labor friendly. Make that working fami-lies friendly,” she corrects herself, using a broader term and not-ing that, so far as she’s concerned, there is no difference betweena Republican worker and a Democratic worker, or any worker,for that matter, with or without party affiliation.

Whether she goes door-to-door—as she did during the 2005Special Election—or she gets on the phone after work, politicalcanvassing gives her a chance to listen to other workers, to helpthem hash out their concerns. “The people I talk to,” she notes,“are workers like myself, impressed that unions are truly con-

cerned about what theythink regarding the elec-tions, the country,” she adds.

“For me, campaigning is part of making our voices heard, inSacramento and in Washington, D.C.”

Workers show political muscle

“I think the government should be concerned and offer solutions tomake healthcare more affordable and more accessible to all Americans.”

“We all work and live next to one another, we are all workingpeople and we all have the same needs.”

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MEMBERS SPEAK FAMILY GROWS AND GETS STRONGER

“Ourdaughterwent to thewar front”

“War is hell,”

NOTE: As of this writing, we’ve learned thatLeslie was promoted to Marine Corps Captain.

said GeneralSherman 125 years ago as he pushed hisweary Union army across Georgia to victoryover the south in the civil war. War sowschaos and tears lives and homes asunder,noted Sherman. Fortunately for the humanspirit, it also forces people to create bondswhere none existed before, and strengthenthose that were already strong.

Leslie Boegel, 28, is the daughter of for-mer UHW Executive Board memberMonica Boegel. A first lieutenant at the timeshe graduated from the United States NavalAcademy in Annapolis in 2002, Leslie hascompleted three tours of duty in Iraq sincethe outbreak of war in 2003.

“I always wanted to serve the country,” shesaid.“It was Leslie’s decision to join the mil-itary,” Monica Boegel said about her daugh-ter. “We supported her, as we have donewith all our children. Becoming a Marine isnot easy and I’m proud of her.”

Monica is a respiratory therapist atWashington Hospital in Fremont where she’sworked for 16 years. In addition to her for-mer role on the UHW Executive Board, shewas also an activist doing a fair amount ofunion work, phone banking and precinctwalking until her health forced her to stepdown after the 2005 Special Election.

CHALLENGING THE BONDS THAT TIE

There are painful moments every familylives. In the Boegels’ case it happened when

Lt. Boegel was sent to Kuwait in June 2003.As part of the First Marine Logistic Group,her duty was to supply ‘beans, bullets andband-aids,” in Marine parlance for supplies.

“She’s the only one who’s been so far awayfrom home,” said sister Angelina, an RN atStanford’s Children’s Hospital whose 2003wedding Leslie was resigned to miss.“I like tothink we’re a close family,” she said. As luckwould have it, Leslie made it to her wedding.

WHEN ACTIONS BEAR FRUIT

“After my first tour I realized my platoonneeded essentials,” Leslie said. She asked herfamily to send boxes of goodies for the menand women in combat. “Things difficult toobtain in Iraq but that we could share: tooth-paste, shampoo, sanitizers, chewing gum,Pringles, sunscreen, even gossip magazines!”

“I realized our ‘extended’ family hadbecome much larger and we needed to thinkabout everybody in her platoon,” Monicasaid about her new responsibilities. TheBoegels reached out to neighbors and hospi-tal coworkers. Leslie’s platoon started to getloads of boxes every Friday.

“One of my trucks hit an explosivedevice,” Leslie recounts. “Nobody was seri-ously hurt.” They then found out that thesunscreen helped heal the shrapnel scratch-es one of her men got.

“We know that it is difficult for everyfamily with a loved one serving in Iraq orAfghanistan. As Leslie’s parents, we chose to

give her platoon the idea that they were nostrangers to us, and were a part of ourextended family.”

In her third, and final, tour, Leslie wasaway in Iraq’s Anbar province duringThanksgiving and Christmas. “It hit us veryhard,” Monica says, holding back tears. Butagain, the Boegels’ coworkers and neighborscame through and more boxes arrived. “Myresponsibility toward my platoon is to keepmorale high, because, at the end of the day,we still have a mission to do.”

This Thanksgiving the Boegels were count-ing their blessings that Leslie had survivedunscathed and that the family bonds remain asstrong as ever.

Left: Marine Lieutenant Boegel on a military transport.Below: with her parents Monica and A.J. Boegel. Leslie wasrecently promoted to captain.

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At our 2006 Leadership Conference, UHWleaders unanimously agreed to make a campaignfor universal access to healthcare our top priori-ty for 2007-08. To achieve that goal, UHW andthe SEIU State Council are putting into placethe building blocks for an aggressive campaignby conducting opinion research to understandvoters’ attitudes about healthcare and differentreform proposals; by building a coalition for uni-versal access with the state Labor Federation,other unions, consumer groups and communityallies; and by coordinating health reform effortswith other healthcare industry partners, likeKaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare Westand other progressive employers. The 2007-08healthcare campaign will mobilize grassrootsactivities in order to expose the problems thatpeople face with their healthcare throughoutCalifornia. Through community coalition build-ing, union member mobilization, constituenteducation in key legislative districts and onlineactivism, we will build support for solutions toour healthcare problems. These solutions mustenable all Californians to have affordable, qualityhealthcare that they can rely on to keep themhealthy and that will provide the care they needwhen they are sick.

It is clear that in 2007 the Legislature will con-sider a number of different health reform pro-

posals: Assembly Speaker Nuñez and otherAssembly Democrats have already introducedseveral vehicles for reform, Senate President ProTem Perata has put forward his reform plan, andSenator Kuehl will likely reintroduce her bill tocreate a single-payer system. GovernorSchwarzenegger will announce his proposals forchanging California’s healthcare system in hisState of the State speech on January 9th. UHWwill work with legislators, members and ourallies to win passage of legislation in 2007 thatachieves our goal of universal access. If theGovernor and the Legislature fail to agree on realreform, then we will prepare to put a universalaccess initiative before the voters in 2008.Guaranteeing access to quality, affordablehealthcare is essential if California is to have athriving economy and democracy in the 21stCentury, and now it is time for our members andour union to make that goal a reality.

HEALTHCARE REFORM

Healthcare Reform Principlesto advance in 2007

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The long Southern California summer was a blessing forthe thousands of UHW members and families who attend-ed the late October picnic in the San Dimas Regional Park.There were activities, games and food for everyone.

The littler ones got a chance to try some pony rides forthe first time ever. The tough part came when their timewas up and they had to give up their pony. (Oh yeah, theydid think it was theirs to take home!)

Older kids, those nearing their teens, got a chance tonot only play in the intense heat of the day, but also tobecome acquainted with a colorful selection of reptiles.Like their parents when they are in negotiations withemployers, they showed respect but little fear for the crit-ters. Some boys and girls had no qualms about wearingthe crawlers like scarves around their necks. Yet some ofthe same kids were later terrified when they tried theFerris Wheel. Go figure.

Parents had a chance to play too. Pairing upwith their kids and friends, teams competedagainst one another, disappearing under a tower ofcolorful tubes, or marching in lockstep only to tripover, or playing with water (sweet, cool water),dashing across the field to beat their opponents.They were seriously trying to win but found them-selves laughing so hard they had no choice but tobe merry as the sun began its decline.

And while elsewhere in the U.S. it was alreadythe fall, in San Dimas the sky was clear and thesun shone until the last family took note that itwas time to get back in the car for the ride backhome. And dream of next year’s picnic. Somepeople have all the luck.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ANNUAL PICNIC

Merry in San Dimas Park

The UHW Education Department offersfree seminars to members who are in need oftraining, and to those who must completeaccredited training to keep their professionallicense, registration or certification. The

department suggests that you check withyour accrediting agency to make surethey will recognize your class.

Thanks to recent collective bargain-

ing victories that have improved contract lan-guage regarding educational training, registra-tion may go up significantly from previous years.Make sure to register on time on the Educationhotline: 1-866-336-8108.

EDUCATION FUND

2007 ContinuingEducation Seminars

CORE STEWARD TRAINING (CST)Geared for new shop stewards, this two-part training will sharpen stewards’ ability to repre-sent members.PART I: Participants will discuss the goals and strategies of unions, become familiar withtheir responsibilities, and learn skills to recruit members that could be involved in unionactivities and organize them around issues that are relevant to their working environment. PART II: Participants will discuss the duties and rights of stewards, learn about understand-ing a contract, recognizing and investigating a grievance, having a meeting with manage-ment, and building support for the union.

More information at www.seiu-uhw.org:

- Online calendar will now list UHW meetings, socialevents, classes and more

- All Education classes can now be registered for online- Look for a monthly e-newsletter to launch early 2007

560 Thomas L. Berkley WayOakland, CA 94612

NONPROFITORG.

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

UNITEDHEALTHCARE

WORKERS

Left: “The UHW seminars helped me advance my careergoals,” says UHW member Stella Richardson. Below:Members recently took Basic Spanish for HealthcareWorkers in the Oakland office.