NLRB Blocks New Organization's Attempts to Divide UHW; SEIU UHW Committed to Securing Good Contracts Wi...( OAKLAND Calif. Feb. 22 -- Statement ...),Health

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statement of Eliseo Medina and David Regan, Trustees of SEIU UHW, after it was revealed in BNA's Daily Labor Report that the National Labor Relations Board has blocked the attempts of Sal Rosselli and other former officers of UHW to weaken their former local. The NLRB also announced its intent to investigate charges of Unfair Labor Practices after learning that the ousted leaders of UHW had failed to bargain and close contracts for workers:

"At a time when California and this nation face extreme economic uncertainty, SEIU has real strength in numbers. As the largest union in California, we can amplify our voice and use our resources to fight back against cutbacks and shrinkage.

"SEIU UHW has a proud history of negotiating strong contracts that raise standards for our members and ensure health and other benefits. The best way to guarantee that this tradition continues is to make certain that pending contracts are negotiated with member leaders and finalized with the rank-and-file's support.

"For union members to secure strong contracts, workers must be represented fairly and union officials must bargain in good faith. That's the law. But too many of UHW's members now are working under open contracts -- some open for more than 8 months -- because their former leaders failed in their duty to represent the members of this union by allowing contract negotiations to languish.

"As trustees of UHW, we commit to the members of this local that we will work with the member leaders of UHW to secure good contracts for the thousands of workers who do some of the toughest jobs out there. Together, we will face the economic challenges before us and improve the lives of California healthcare workers."