Democracy in Action – One Door at a Time

Everyday, politicians at the federal, state, and local level make decisions that affect our jobs, our families, our lives and our communities. That is why members of SEIU are making their voices heard this year. We are talking with fellow union members about the election’s impact on healthcare and the economy.

“These elections are not about electing Democrats or Republicans, they are about ensuring everyone has access to quality and affordable healthcare,” explained Healthcare Worker Ethel Gates. “That’s why I am out daily knocking on doors and talking with other union members about where the candidates stand on issues.”

Members of SEIU are working across the state to elect candidates who support working families.

 Candidates Endorsed by SEIU Members

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SEIU Helps Launch National Coalition To Win "Health Care for America NOW"

With momentum building for fundamental change in the nation’s health care system, SEIU – the largest union of health care workers – today helped launch a new, national coalition that will bring together millions of Americans to demand quality, affordable health care for all.

“A good life is often measured by good health,” said SEIU member Leslie Wright, RN at the launch of ‘Health Care for America NOW.’ “Worrying how much the bill will be should not be the determiner of whether a person seeks health care.”

Forming Health Care for America NOW – an unprecedented coalition that unites labor, community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, people of color, netroots activists, and think tanks – is just the latest in a groundswell of activities pushing for comprehensive health care reform.

From the bargaining table to the ballot box, SEIU has been at the forefront of this movement -- forming groundbreaking alliances with the business community, building a grassroots army of health care voters, organizing the “Road to American Health Care” nationwide bus tour, and holding the politicians accountable to the millions of people demanding a solution to the health care crisis.

“Health Care for America NOW” was launched today with the Madison, WI press conference and events in 52 other cities across the country. Along with SEIU, the coalition is being led by ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn.org, National Education Association, National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, United Food and Commercial Workers, and USAction.

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SEIU Endorses Candidates for 2008

The SEIU Wisconsin State Council announced their endorsements in key races around the state:

State Senate
SD 4 Lena Taylor
SD 10 Alison Page
SD 18 Jessica King
SD 26 Fred Risser
SD 30 Dave Hansen

“SEIU members and leaders met with each candidate, and after carefully reviewing the candidates’ records and positions, the SEIU Wisconsin State Council believes these candidates are the best choice for Wisconsin families,” said President Dian Palmer. “Our members see how politics impact their daily lives. That’s why SEIU members in Wisconsin have a long history of electing candidates who defend working families.”

The SEIU Wisconsin State Council coordinates the legislative and political agenda of Wisconsin’s 8 SEIU Locals. SEIU is the nation’s fastest growing union with more than 2 million members nationwide and over 15,000 members in Wisconsin.

SEIU will continue to make endorsements in legislative races in the coming months.

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On the Road for American Healthcare

Health care costs are spiraling out of control. More than 47 million Americans have no coverage at all. But instead of offering a plan to make sure everyone can get good health care, presidential candidate John McCain’s proposals would actually make it harder to get affordable coverage – and Wisconsin workers and lawmakers are speaking out.
 
On Friday, June 13, SEIU held a rally immediately prior to the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s state convention in Stevens Point.  The event featured officeholders - State Senator Russ Decker, State Representative Donna Seidel – Wisconsin AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Sara Rogers, and SEIU health care workers who are on the front line of the health care crisis. 
 
Speakers will called for real solutions to the health care crisis, and distributed a report detailing how John McCain’s health care proposals would make it harder for Americans to get coverage, would jeopardize quality by eroding consumer protections, and would do nothing to prevent the continuing escalation of costs.
 
The event was part of “The Road to American Health Care,” a national bus tour aimed at mobilizing voters around comprehensive health care reform. The bus tour is being organized by SEIU as part of a sweeping campaign to elect a new President and Congress committed to fixing health care -- and then make sure those newly elected leaders immediately pass comprehensive legislation that makes quality health care affordable for everyone.

The bus tour will next travel to Milwaukee where health care workers and community leaders will hold a press conference to call for real solutions to the health care crisis that address inequities in the system. 

The SEIU bus tour will be attending Milwaukee's Juneteenth celebration on Thursday to register voters and educate people on issues faced due to the healthcare crises.  Juneteenth is an annual, national holiday marking the day in 1862 when many slaves learned that the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued.

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Members Interview Candidates Across Wisconsin

This week, SEIU members are meeting with candidates who seek their endorsement in Wisconsin's fall elections.

A panel of SEIU members, retirees, and officers ask tough questions and listen carefully as candidates explain their positions on improving education, and fixing our broken healthcare system.

SEIU members in Green Bay, Madison, Menomonee, and Milwaukee are interviewing 21 candidates.

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Everyone Deserves a Chance at the American Dream

Workers across the country deserve a fair chance to unite with their co-workers for better wages and benefits and a chance to create a better future for their kids.

Honoring Nurses

We celebrate National Nurses Week by honoring healthcare professionals who serve their community by delivering quality care.

This year, Dian Palmer, a Registered Nurse and SEIU Healthcare 1199 Wisconsin President, wrote an editorial published in the Capital Times. The article calls on the community to give thanks to the valuable services provided by nurses, but shares disheartening barriers faced by those in the profession, such as a lack of affordable health care, and exhausted nurses forced to work overtime.

Nurses are working to improve our broken healthcare system. “Thousands of nurses across Wisconsin have united with SEIU Healthcare to change the direction of our health care system,” Dian explained. “In Wisconsin, nurses are talking with legislators about a ban on mandatory overtime for health care workers and about the need for comprehensive health care reform.”

Read the full editorial

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United with Obama

Wisconsin SEIU members loaded into vans and traveled to Gary, Indiana prior to Tuesday’s primary in the state. Union members knocked on doors, and talked with voters about the importance of getting out to vote.

Senator Obama’s commanding win in North Carolina and close showing in Indiana in the May 6^th primary means he is clearly the Democratic nominee for President.

During the 2008 primary, Senator Obama sparked excitement among SEIU members in Wisconsin who are ready for a change from the current administration’s failed economic and foreign policy.

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