Illinois/Indiania SEIU merger

Bob Roman
New Ground 117
Chicago DSA

The boards of SEIU Locals 4, 20, and 880 have voted to merge, forming “one big healthcare union,” so to speak, in Illinois and Indiana. This is part of yet another round reorganizations and mergers within the Service Employees International Union. You could think of this ongoing process as Andy Stern’s version of the Cultural Revolution, and it’s proving to be about as controversial within the larger labor movement and in some places within SEIU. Not here. This merger is subject to ratification by the membership, however the only uncertainty is how many members will vote.

SEIU Local 4 represents workers in nursing homes: certified nurse’s assistants, rehabilitation aides, housekeeping and dietary workers. SEIU Local 20 represents workers in hospitals in a variety of positions, including some physicians. SEIU Local 880 began life as an independent union, a project of Illinois ACORN that later affiliated with SEIU. It represents home care workers and day care workers. Some 70,000 of the 90,000 members of the new “SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana” will come from Local 880.

The hope is that the larger organization will more efficiently and forcefully represent the interests of the membership. And that the savings from the economies of scale can be applied toward organizing.