SEIU Local 1199

SEIU Local 1199 is a labor union representing healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals, in the New York City area, with a history dating back to 1932. The union is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the AFL-CIO, and has been involved in various labor movements and social justice campaigns, including the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement. SEIU Local 1199 has worked closely with other unions, such as the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters, to advocate for workers' rights and improve working conditions. The union has also been supported by prominent figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

● History

SEIU Local 1199 was founded in 1932 by a group of pharmacists and drugstore workers, with the goal of improving working conditions and wages for healthcare workers. The union quickly grew and expanded to represent other healthcare workers, including nurses and doctors, and became a major player in the New York City labor movement, working closely with other unions, such as the United Federation of Teachers and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. During the 1960s and 1970s, SEIU Local 1199 was involved in several high-profile labor disputes and strikes, including a 1962 strike against Montefiore Medical Center and a 1974 strike against New York City hospitals, which drew support from prominent figures, including Coretta Scott King and Bayard Rustin. The union has also been involved in various social justice campaigns, including the Anti-Apartheid Movement and the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and has worked with organizations, such as the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union.

● Structure and Membership

SEIU Local 1199 is a democratic union with a membership of over 300,000 healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals, in the New York City area. The union is divided into several locals, each representing a specific group of workers, such as nurses or doctors, and is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the AFL-CIO. SEIU Local 1199 has a diverse membership, with workers from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including African American, Latino, and Asian American workers, and has worked to promote diversity and inclusion within the union and the broader labor movement. The union has also worked closely with other organizations, such as the National Council of La Raza and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, to advocate for the rights of immigrant workers and low-wage workers.

● Collective Bargaining and Contracts

SEIU Local 1199 is involved in collective bargaining with several major healthcare employers in the New York City area, including New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and NYU Langone Medical Center. The union negotiates contracts on behalf of its members, seeking to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions, and has been successful in securing significant gains for its members, including wage increases and benefit improvements. SEIU Local 1199 has also worked to promote worker safety and patient safety through its collective bargaining efforts, and has partnered with organizations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Joint Commission, to improve healthcare quality and reduce medical errors. The union has also been involved in various labor-management partnerships, including the Partnership for Quality Care and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, to promote collaboration and innovation in the healthcare industry.

● Political Activity and Advocacy

SEIU Local 1199 is actively involved in politics and advocacy efforts, working to promote the interests of its members and the broader healthcare community. The union has been a strong supporter of progressive politicians, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and has worked to promote single-payer healthcare and other healthcare reform efforts, including the Affordable Care Act and the Medicare for All Act. SEIU Local 1199 has also been involved in various social justice campaigns, including the Fight for $15 and the Black Lives Matter movement, and has worked with organizations, such as the ACLU and the NAACP, to promote civil rights and social justice. The union has also been a strong advocate for immigrant rights and workers' rights, and has worked with organizations, such as the National Immigration Law Center and the Workers Defense Project, to promote immigrant justice and worker justice.

● Notable Strikes and Labor Disputes

SEIU Local 1199 has been involved in several high-profile strikes and labor disputes over the years, including a 1962 strike against Montefiore Medical Center and a 1974 strike against New York City hospitals. The union has also been involved in several notable labor disputes with major healthcare employers, including New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, and has worked to promote worker solidarity and community support during these disputes. SEIU Local 1199 has also been involved in various labor-management partnerships, including the Partnership for Quality Care and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, to promote collaboration and innovation in the healthcare industry. The union has also worked with organizations, such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, to promote labor peace and resolve labor disputes.

● Leadership and Governance

SEIU Local 1199 is led by a president and a executive board, which is responsible for setting the union's overall direction and policy. The union's current president is George Gresham, who has been a leader in the labor movement for many years and has worked closely with other prominent labor leaders, including Richard Trumka and Mary Kay Henry. SEIU Local 1199 also has a strong governance structure, with a constitution and bylaws that outline the union's rules and procedures, and has worked to promote transparency and accountability within the union. The union has also been recognized for its diversity and inclusion efforts, and has been awarded the AFL-CIO's George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award for its work promoting workers' rights and social justice.