Service Employees International Union

Service Employees International Union
source
Name	Service Employees International Union
Abbreviation	SEIU
Founded	1921
Headquartered	United States
Members	1.9 million (approx.)
Key people	Mary Kay Henry

Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing workers in healthcare, public services, and property services across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The union engages in collective bargaining, political advocacy, and organizing campaigns involving municipal governments, healthcare systems, and corporate employers. It has participated in high-profile campaigns alongside organizations such as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the AFL–CIO, and grassroots groups including Black Lives Matter and the Sunrise Movement.

History

The union traces origins to janitorial and building service unions active in the 1920s and 1930s, intersecting with labor struggles associated with the National Labor Relations Board and the Wagner Act. SEIU's growth accelerated during postwar labor realignments, interacting with figures like Walter Reuther and organizations such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Landmark events include large-scale strikes and campaigns in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, engaging employers like Hyatt, UNITE HERE, and the Service Employees' contemporaries in organizing drives. In the 1990s and 2000s, SEIU expanded through mergers and affiliations with unions representing nursing assistants, janitors, and security officers, aligning tactics with campaigns seen in the Fight for $15 movement and coalition efforts with the National Nurses United and the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Organization and Structure

SEIU's structure comprises local unions, international departments, and a central executive board led by presidents and an executive vice president, mirroring governance models used by the AFL–CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress. Local chapters operate in metropolitan regions such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., coordinating with state legislatures, city councils, and county governments. Administrative functions interact with labor law frameworks like the Taft-Hartley Act and National Labor Relations Board rulings, and SEIU maintains training and research arms akin to the Economic Policy Institute and the Institute for Policy Studies. Leadership has included figures who engage with political leaders in the Democratic Party, liaising with the campaigns of presidents and governors.

Membership and Sectors

SEIU represents workers in healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care, connecting with employers such as Kaiser Permanente, HCA Healthcare, and state Medicaid programs. Property service members include janitors employed by multinational contractors and building managers serving corporations like CBRE and JLL. Public sector members work for municipal agencies, school districts, and transit authorities, engaging with entities such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles Unified School District, and New York City government. Membership overlaps with professionals represented by unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and National Education Association affiliates.

Political Activity and Advocacy

SEIU has been active in electoral politics, campaign finance, and ballot initiatives, working with political committees, the Democratic National Committee, and candidates for presidential, gubernatorial, and mayoral offices. The union has lobbied on legislation including the Affordable Care Act, state minimum wage laws, and ballot measures in states such as California, New York, and Florida. SEIU has coordinated endorsements and get-out-the-vote efforts alongside organizations like EMILY's List, MoveOn.org, and the Working Families Party, and it has engaged in litigation with parties appearing before federal courts and state supreme courts. International solidarity efforts have connected SEIU to the Canadian Labour Congress and global unions affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

Collective Bargaining and Major Campaigns

SEIU's collective bargaining has produced contracts with healthcare systems, municipal employers, and property service contractors, negotiating wage increases, benefits, and staffing provisions. Major campaigns include organizing drives at hospitals associated with Partners HealthCare and Kaiser, janitor organizing in downtown business districts, and home care worker campaigns tied to Medicaid reimbursement rates. High-profile actions have included strikes, coordinated demonstrations in civic centers and courthouses, and strategic campaigns resembling those led by the Fight for $15, with outcomes affecting employers like Sodexo, Aramark, and multinational hotel chains.

Controversies and Criticism

SEIU has faced criticism and legal challenges related to political spending, internal governance, and organizing tactics, paralleling disputes seen in other large unions such as the Teamsters and UNITE HERE. Accusations have included conflicts over trusteeships in local chapters, disputes adjudicated by labor boards and federal courts, and debates over relationships with political action committees and Super PACs during presidential campaigns. Critics from think tanks, reform groups, and rival unions have raised concerns about transparency, affiliate mergers, and the balance between national strategy and local autonomy, leading to high-profile resignations and public controversies involving state labor regulators and election authorities.

Category:Trade unions in the United States Category:Labor relations Category:Healthcare trade unions