SEIU Annual Report

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Justice for All New Media The Justice for All platform we adopted in 2008 was the thread running through all our work in 2009. We made major strides toward our commitment to building a progressive, pro-worker political majority and to building our strength by uniting at least a half a million more workers before 2012. • New, all-volunteer member canvassing teams began reaching out to thousands of unorganized workers in pilot organizing programs in Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Arizona and other states. • Sodexo workers launched a nationwide campaign to improve wage and job standards, signing petitions in support of uniting 25,000 Sodexo workers into SEIU for a voice on the job. • More than 40,000 new healthcare, property services and public services workers united with us in 2009. • More than 100,000 Workers United members affiliated with SEIU. • Tens of thousands of members and activists turned out at SEIU-led rallies and town hall meetings for healthcare reform and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. We also spearheaded a yearlong taxpayer crusade for economic reform to protect working families. The SEIU New Media program got into full swing in 2009, growing out of the Justice for All mandate to create a communications system that gives workers the ability to make their concerns heard throughout society. Using social-networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, the SEIU Blog and text-messaging, the New Media program gives members and activists the ability to use their cell phones and computers to get news and alerts from the field, post videos and reach out for help in their workplace, organizing and political campaigns. The newly designed SEIU Web page drew almost 2 million visitors in 2009 and has helped the union build an e-mail list of activists that is 500,000-strong and growing. In 2010, the New Media program will continue to develop new tools to connect workers with workers and improve the content-management and advocacy tools available to local unions. If you’re not yet connected to SEIU Mobile, connect now: Text SEIU to 787753 (PURPLE) to receive the latest updates. 4 17
SEIU Initiative on Ethics and Standards Building a Progressive Majority After recommendations from SEIU’s Commission on Ethics and Standards and a comment period for all local unions, the SEIU International Executive Board approved a new set of policies on ethics and standards in June. The policies aim for increased financial accountability and transparency; mandatory ethics training; and integration of ethics into every aspect of the life of the union. The provisions of the ethics code address, among other things, conflicts of interest concerning gifts, payments, benefit plans and related organizations. The code applies to the International union, local unions and affiliates. Since the adoption of the policies, SEIU has taken steps to bolster financial accountability and provide ethics training and ensure compliance with the code. SEIU also has begun informal initiatives to strengthen ethical culture throughout the union. In 14 states with elected officials who are major policymakers, SEIU’s national Change That Works scored victories early in the year with passage of the Economic Recovery Act and expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. During the congressional recess in August, the campaign turned out more than 21,000 pro-healthcare reform activists to major town hall rallies and events. In September, Change That Works became an independent, nonprofit organization active in 12 states—Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia. 2009 electoral successes included: • Congressional victories by John Garamendi and Judy Chu of California and Bill Owens of New York; • Mayoral victories that included those of Annise Parker in Houston, R.T. Rybak in Minneapolis, Chris Coleman in St. Paul, Tom Menino in Boston, Dana Redd in Camden, N.J., Anthony Foxx in Charlotte, N.C., Stephanie Miner in Syracuse, N.Y., and Andre Quintero in El Monte, Calif.; • Election of pro-worker city council candidates in Seattle, Houston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Boston, and the Bronx and Manhattan, N.Y.; • In Maine and Washington, SEIU public services members helped lead successful campaigns to defeat “TABOR” ballot initiatives. The so-called “taxpayer bill of rights” proposals would have crippled funding levels for public services. The margin of defeat in both states showed that voters clearly understood the need for critical public services. 16 5
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SEIU Annual Report

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