WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With three weeks until SEIU members and leaders gather for the SEIU International Convention, leaders of SEIU healthcare local unions representing nearly 800,000 healthcare workers have united in support of a new SEIU plan to win quality healthcare for all and build greater strength for healthcare workers throughout North America.
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SEIU local union United Healthcare Workers West (UHW-W) has not joined in supporting the bold new plan, called "Justice For All," which sets the direction and strategy of SEIU, the nation's largest healthcare workers' union, for the next four years.
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Today 34 SEIU Healthcare leaders released a letter to UHW-W members, urging them to join nearly 800,000 other healthcare workers in support the plan. The leaders represent 28 different SEIU local unions: 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (UHE), SEIU District 1199P (Pennsylvania), SEIU Local 49, SEIU Local 1199WI, SEIU Local 1199NW, SEIU Local 503, SEIU Healthcare Michigan, SEIU Healthcare Florida, SEIU Local 1199WOK (West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky), SEIU Local 20, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, SEIU Local 775, SEIU Local 6434 (United Longterm Care Workers), SEIU Local 1199NJ, SEIU Local 121RN, SEIU Local 880, SEIU Local 4, SEIU Local 1107, SEIU Local 105, SEIU Local 333, SEIU Local 902, SEIU Local 336, SEIU Local 299, SEIU Local 150, SEIU Local 1 Ontario Canada, SEIU Local 1199UG, SEIU Local 199, and SEIU Local 298.
The letter to UHW-W members says, "We are concerned that UHW members may not be getting the full information regarding the vibrant debate and decision making process involving the other 56 local union leaders of our International Executive Board...It's your voice as a member that really counts. We have already accomplished so much together, let's continue the fight to bring even more workers into our union and increase the benefits for current members." The full text of the letter is online at http://tinyurl.com/5eemqn.
UHW-W chose not to attend a critical May 3 meeting of the SEIU International Executive Board in New York where leaders debated proposals to determine the direction and strategies of SEIU for the next four years. With UHW-W on the sidelines, the International Executive Board voted unanimously for the "Justice for All" plan, which will be voted on by delegates at the SEIU convention in Puerto Rico, June 2-4. Details of the SEIU Justice For All plan can be found at http://www.SEIU2008.org.
SOURCE Service Employees International Union
