SEIU Staff Union
Practicing What You Preach:
Why SEIU Needs a Staff Union
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a powerhouse in the labor movement, fighting tirelessly for the rights and well-being of millions of workers across North America. They champion fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize, empowering individuals to have a voice in their workplaces. But what about the people working behind the scenes, the very individuals who make the SEIU's mission possible? It's time for SEIU to truly embody its values by recognizing and supporting a staff union within its own ranks.
The benefits of a staff union for SEIU employees are undeniable and would not only improve their working lives but also strengthen the organization as a whole. Here's why:
Living by the Principles They Champion
The core of SEIU’s message revolves around the power of collective bargaining and the right of workers to organize. Denying their own staff this same right creates a stark contradiction, undermining the credibility and authenticity of their advocacy. A staff union would demonstrate SEIU’s genuine commitment to the principles they champion, proving they are not just fighting for others, but also for their own people. This authenticity would resonate with members, potential recruits, and the public, bolstering their reputation as a true champion of workers’ rights.
Improved Working Conditions & Job Security
A staff union would provide a platform for SEIU employees to collectively negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. This includes issues like fair compensation, affordable healthcare, reasonable workloads, transparent promotion processes, and robust job security. By ensuring these conditions are met, SEIU can attract and retain top talent, leading to a more dedicated and effective workforce.
Increased Transparency and Accountability
A unionized workforce brings a new level of transparency and accountability to the workplace. It allows for open communication between staff and leadership, providing a mechanism to address concerns and resolve disputes fairly. This can lead to a more positive and collaborative work environment, where everyone feels heard and respected.
Enhanced Productivity and Morale
When employees feel valued and supported, their morale increases, leading to greater job satisfaction and productivity. A staff union can foster a sense of ownership and investment in the organization, as employees know they have a voice in shaping their work lives. This can translate into increased efficiency and effectiveness in achieving SEIU’s goals.
A Stronger and More Unified Organization
A staff union isn’t about creating division; it’s about building a stronger and more unified organization. By working collaboratively with the staff union, SEIU leadership can gain valuable insights into the needs and concerns of their employees. This partnership can lead to more effective strategies and policies, ultimately benefiting the entire organization.
Why SEIU Should Embrace This Change
Recognizing a staff union isn't about admitting weakness; it's about demonstrating strength and integrity. It's about walking the walk, not just talking the talk. By embracing a staff union, SEIU can:
Reinforce its commitment to workers' rights
Show the world that they believe in the power of collective bargaining for all workers, including their own.
Lead by example
Set a new standard for labor organizations by prioritizing the well-being of their employees.
Enhance its credibility and reputation
Solidify its position as a true champion of workers’ rights.
SEIU's Own Words
Service Employees International Union
Washington D.C.
Unions for All means doing four things:
Bring employers, workers and government together at industry-wide bargaining tables to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Establish the National Labor Relations Act as the floor rather than the ceiling for laws governing worker organizing, allowing states and cities to empower workers to join together in a union beyond the limits of federal law.
Ensure that every public dollar is used to create good, union jobs and that every federal worker and contractor makes at least $15 an hour and has the opportunity to join a union.
Put good union jobs at the center of any major economic proposal, such as Healthcare for All or the Green New Deal.
Service Employees International Union
Washington D.C.
We’re changing the rules of the game to ensure ALL workers — regardless of where we come from or where we live — get the wages, dignity and respect they deserve. For too long, rich CEOs and corporations have held all the power. It’s time that changes!
We started fight for $15.
Our fight goes beyond a number. It is a fight for respect, dignity, racial justice, higher wages, and improved living conditions – the fundamental rights we are owed as workers. Rights we only gain through unions!
As we continue the struggle we initiated years ago, it’s time to sharpen our demand. We need a union.
SEIU Local 2015
California
SEIU Local 2015 believes that all workers regardless of industry or type of work should have the ability to join a union and promote standards for all workers. We fight everyday to ensure the promise that every worker has to be part of the highest form of democracy – joining together to build power and achieve together Justice for All.
Service Employees International Union
Washington D.C.
No matter what type of work we do, no matter where in the country we’re doing it, workers are uniting to demand respect like never before.
The #UnionsForAll movement is growing. We all need safer workplaces, pay that matches the cost of living, and way more respect. Maybe that’s why more Americans support unions than any time in the last 50 years. And why from Amazon to Starbucks (with now 180+ Starbucks stores unionized), workers are fighting for and winning their unions.
Service Employees International Union
Washington D.C.
SEIU, our union of 2M members, just joined the AFL-CIO – the largest federation of unions in the country with 13M members.
United, we’re going to unrig the rules once and for all, so all workers who want a union can have one – regardless of race, gender or status.