Convention Ends...But Our Work Won't

The SEIU 2008 Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico has officially ended, but our work sure won't. You can keep following all the latest SEIU news and find great ways to take action on the SEIU website, http://www.seiu.org.

And don't forget to sign up to stay involved: sign up on the left to ensure Justice for All.

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Delegates Elect New International Executive Board

New leadership distinguished by diversity, new faces, rank and file members

SEIU member delegates closed their 2008 Convention Wednesday with the election of 23 Vice Presidents and 37 Executive Board members, including 20 percent of the new members, to lead the union for its 2008-2012 term.
 
Nine members of the board are rank-and-file SEIU members. They are:

• Linda Sutton, SEIU Local 2008 (SEANC), North Carolina, Training Coordinator

• Luella Toni Lewis, MD, CIR SEIU, New York, Doctor
  

• Gary Smith SEIU Local 1984, New Hampshire, Corrections Officer

• Bruce Hodsdon, SEIU Local 1989 (MSEA), Maine, Transportation Analyst

• Cathy Singer Glasson, SEIU Local 199, Iowa, RN

• Dian Palmer, SEIU Local 1199WI, RN

• Mike O’Brien, Local 2001, Connecticut, Engineer

• Yvonne Walker, SEIU Local 1000, California, Legal secretary

• Merle Cuttitta, SEIU Local 500, Maryland, Administrative Secretary

 
The 2008-2012 SEIU International Executive Board is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse bodies elected in the history of the labor movement, and many of its members came from the rank-and-file.  It includes representation from across SEIU’s three divisions and all parts of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

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Taking On Private Equity

For more information about how to get involved with SEIU's global campaign to take back the economy, visit http://www.July17Action.org/.

Today, SEIU and it's international partners will kick off an unprecedented campaign to take back the economy all leading to a global day of action on July 17, 2007. We'll be carrying the kick-off live at around 3:30 P.M., so please be sure to tune in.

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Barack Obama Addressed SEIU Today

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama addressed SEIU earlier today in an event viewed by all the members in Puerto Rico and streamed to thousands online. He spoke eloquently (of course) about the importance of organizing, the employee free choice act, and his experience with Pauline Beck and the walk a day in my shoes program. Watch the speech here:

SEIU Members Made the Difference for Donna Edwards

Many SEIU members live in Donna Edwards' district and worked long hours on her campaign. Hear about their experiences, and why they needed to get involved:

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A National Movement for Healthcare Reform

This afternoon, we talked about affordable, quality healthcare for all, in a discussion led by Mary Kay Henry, an SEIU Executive Vice President. As a union of nurses and healthcare workers, we see first-hand how much we need national healthcare reform. See what these members had to say:

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Anna Burger, Donna Edwards and U Maung Maung

Anna Burger, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer, brought the crowd to its feet on numerous occasions with a rousing speech that focused on the importance of organizing, political accountability, and the next President of the United States: Barack Obama.

"Working families haven't had this much at stake, or had such a clear choice, in a long time. The time is now to make the next Congress a workers' Congress. And the time is now to elect Barack Obama to become the next President of the United States."

The crowd rose to its feet.

Anna continued, "He is our candidate, because Barack Obama is one of us."

She also talked at length about political accountability and SEIU's Accountability Project. Check out some of the clips from her speech below.

Anna Burger talks about the gap between workers and the rich elite



Anna Burger talks about SEIU's support for Barack Obama



Anna Burger talks about SEIU's Accountability ProjectAnna Burger talks on the convention floor about SEIU's Accountability Project and supporting Donna Edwards in her successful primary race against Rep. Al Wynn from Maryland. Check it out:

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Worker Trying to Organize Speaks Out

Gloryvee Santana, a home healthcare worker in Massachusetts, shares her experience of finding the union and trying to organize her fellow workers.  Watch here:

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SEIU Public Services Division Members Speak Out

Workers from SEIU's Public Services Division share their stories and challenges from many states facing budget shortfalls:

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Andy Stern's Healthcare Pledge

Andy Stern just finished his speech before the convention.  Watch his closing pledge to the two million members of SEIU: