SEIU United Healthcare Workers West

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is a labor union representing over 100,000 healthcare workers in California, including nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals employed by Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and other healthcare providers. The union is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest and most influential labor unions in the United States, with notable leaders like Mary Kay Henry and Andy Stern. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has been involved in various collective bargaining efforts, advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members, often in collaboration with other unions like the California Nurses Association and the National Union of Healthcare Workers. The union has also been active in politics, endorsing candidates like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris who support labor rights and healthcare reform.

● History

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West was formed in 2009, following a merger between the SEIU and the United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW), a former local union of the SEIU. The merger was led by Sal Rosselli, the former president of UHW, and Andy Stern, the former president of SEIU, with support from other labor leaders like Richard Trumka and John Sweeney. The union has since grown to represent over 100,000 healthcare workers in California, with a significant presence in major healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health, as well as in organizations like the California Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has been involved in various labor disputes and strikes, including a notable strike against Kaiser Permanente in 2019, which drew support from other unions like the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers. The union has also worked with patient advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association to promote healthcare access and quality care.

● Structure and Membership

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is a democratic union with a membership-driven structure, led by Dave Regan, the union's president, and a team of elected leaders who have worked with other labor leaders like Randi Weingarten and Liz Shuler. The union has a diverse membership base, representing healthcare workers from various occupations and industries, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, as well as workers in home healthcare and community health settings. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is also affiliated with the California Labor Federation and the AFL-CIO, and has worked with other unions like the National Education Association and the Service Employees International Union Local 1199 to promote labor rights and social justice. The union has a strong presence in major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, and has worked with community organizations like the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens to promote health equity and social justice.

● Collective Bargaining and Advocacy

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is actively involved in collective bargaining efforts, negotiating contracts with healthcare employers to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members, often in collaboration with other unions like the United Steelworkers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The union has also been a strong advocate for healthcare reform and patient safety initiatives, working with lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders to promote legislation that benefits healthcare workers and patients, such as the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has also partnered with consumer advocacy groups like the Consumers Union and the National Consumer League to promote healthcare transparency and accountability, and has worked with research institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote healthcare research and innovation.

● Political Activities and Endorsements

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is active in politics, endorsing candidates who support labor rights and healthcare reform, such as Gavin Newsom and Alex Padilla. The union has also been involved in various political campaigns, including efforts to pass legislation that benefits healthcare workers and patients, such as the California Nurses Association-backed Safe Staffing Ratio Law. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has also worked with other labor unions and community organizations to promote voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, particularly in communities of color and low-income communities, in collaboration with organizations like the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The union has also endorsed ballot initiatives that promote healthcare access and quality care, such as the California Proposition 56 and the Medicare for All Act.

● Notable Campaigns and Strikes

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has been involved in several notable labor disputes and strikes, including a strike against Kaiser Permanente in 2019, which drew support from other unions like the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers. The union has also led campaigns to improve working conditions and patient safety in hospitals and clinics, such as the Safe Staffing Ratio Campaign and the Patient Safety First Campaign. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has also worked with community organizations to promote health equity and social justice, including efforts to address health disparities and inequities in communities of color and low-income communities, in collaboration with organizations like the American Public Health Association and the National Association of Social Workers. The union has also partnered with research institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote healthcare research and innovation, and has worked with patient advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association to promote healthcare access and quality care.

Category:Labor unions in the United States