Busloads of SEIUers Stage Physical Attack
At Labor Notes Meeting of Union Activists ¬

From 200 to 300 organizers and members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) came in six buses to disrupt the biennial Labor Notes conference in a Detroit hotel, where more than 1,000 labor activists from across the country had been participating April 11-13 in scores of workshops covering a broad range of labor subjects. ¬

The purpose of the SEIU demonstrators was to express their indignation that Labor Notes was supporting a group of reformers who are trying to eliminate undemocratic and “corporate style” practices within the SEIU. They were also there to heckle and shout down speakers from the California Nurses Association, a rival union that competes for the same workforce. ¬

A scuffle took place as the conference staff and others tried to prevent the belligerent SEIU group from entering the banquet hall, where some 800 participants were having dinner. Several people were thrown to the ground by the more aggressive SEIU members. Dianne Feeley, a retiree from American Axle, had to be treated in a hospital emergency room. The police arrived 15 minutes later and broke up the melee, but made no arrests. ¬

Shortly after the demonstrators left, SEIU’s national leadership issued a press release titled, “SEIU Members Stand Up for the Future of the Labor Movement and the Interests of All Workers.” SEIU Vice President Mary Kay praised the demonstrators.

Sweeney Denounces SEIU Attack on Labor Notes

“There is no justification — none — for the violent attack orchestrated by SEIU at the Labor Notes conference in Detroit,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “While there may be multiple sides to any dispute, violence in any form is reprehensible. Violence in attacking free speech must be strongly condemned. Any attempt to deny the right of free speech threatens the foundation of our movement and the future of working people.” ¬

Sweeney called on the leaders of SEIU to “condemn what happened in Detroit.” He also asked them to withdraw their recent appeal to their local unions across the country to withhold dues from AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils as a pressure tactic in their dispute with the CAN. ¬

“It is time for the escalation to stop,” Sweeney said. “Our responsibilities as leaders demand that we rise above our differences and disagreements for the greater good,” He noted that CAN leaders had agreed to meet with the SEIU to discuss their differences. ¬

A Broad Union Audience Attends Dozens of Workshops

With the exception of earlier workshops at which speakers were shouted down by SEIU staffers, participants attended numerous meetings with members of their own unions and with other unions; they learned the nuts-and-bolts of organizing and negotiating contracts, debated labor’s problems and its future, networked, and inspired each other, said Chris Kutalik, Labor Notes editor. ¬

Although no top leader of either the AFL-CIO or Change to Win attended the conference, or even openly recognized its existence, many rank-and-file members of their unions were present. Participants came from 21 countries, including Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Brazil and China. ¬

SEIU leaders have been increasingly concerned about the progress that its smaller, but militant competitor, California Nurses Association, has made, along with its affiliated National Nurses Organization Committee. They differ sharply over the SEIU’s labor-management “partnerships,” that allow a union to recruit members without employer opposition or even with an employer’s assent. CNA is a strong proponent of single-payer, non-profit, universal health care; SEIU President Andy Stern is in favor of eliminating employer funding for health care. ¬

About 250 conferees joined the picket line of the American Axle workers in Detroit, who have been on strike for seven weeks. Later, they were presented with Labor Notes’ “Troublemaker” award. ¬

The conference was dedicated to Santiago Rafael Cruz, an organizer for the Farm Labor Organizing Committee in Mexico, who was murdered by employer-paid thugs. ¬

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