---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Alysabeth Alexander <Alysabeth.Alexander@seiu1021.

org> Date: Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 10:10 AM Subject: [copesf:941] Some thoughts on the Framework from Alysabeth, Larry, Chris To: "copesf@googlegroups.com" <copesf@googlegroups.com>
June 7, 2012 SF COPE Delegates, There has been a great deal of discussion this past week regarding the draft framework between our Local and UHW. As staff and member leaders in the Local, we are happy that this proposal is receiving significant attention and debate. First we would like to acknowledge that several of you have raised serious process concerns regarding the proposed Framework for Agreement between 1021 and UHW on Political Unity. We agree that this process has had shortcomings, and we want to accept our share of responsibility for those. While we all have been very busy with all of our other work: contract negotiations, a major signature drive and election cycle, a staff reorganization including the search for and hiring of a new Lead Director, continued work on amended bylaws, and the International Convention, a significant ball was dropped. Although report-backs were made to SF COPE, we could have done a better job. It is problematic that delegates to SF COPE would first see this document on a third-party website before receiving it in internal correspondence. We also agree that the process used to invite participants into the discussion with UHW was probably too informal. With that said, we would also like to recognize the participation from two COPE Chairs, our PAC chair, our CLC Executive Board member, our regional Vice-President, and several other COPE Delegates in this process. Given this level of participation, we feel that there should have been a more thorough report of the progress of the discussions to SF COPE. We are committed to learning from our mistakes and will do a better job of being even more inclusive and transparent in the future. To the subject matter at hand, earlier this year, our President began having discussions with the President of UHW, Dave Reagan, and the President of the International, Mary Kay Henry, to talk about the differences between our Locals. In these conversations, Roxanne forcefully and repeatedly pointed out the inconsistencies of our sister local in their organizational philosophy and political program. She pressed Reagan on how UHWs engagement was compromising 1021s position and progressive politics in San Francisco, where we have been organizing from the bottom up to build a political movement of the 99% that has been challenging corporate power. As these three-way leader conversations became exhausted, Roxanne proposed that we get rank-and-file members together to discuss the same issues. The proposed Framework is the result of these sessions. During the discussions, 1021 clearly laid out our issues with UHW. We challenged their leadership for their position in opposing the Healthy SF loophole closure and for supporting pro-downtown candidates that support contracting out against candidates that support all workers in public sector and private health care and IHSS. We also challenged them on their anti-SF Labor Council stance. Its clear that their leadership was uncomfortable being challenged on these issues in front of their members who were not aware that these things had happened. Thats not to say were turning UHW into a democratic union, but we must provide some framework for internal-SEIU accountability for what UHW has done and is doing in SF.

These discussions actually moved UHW significantly from their initial position because of the principled and effective engagement of our members. In fact, reform activist members of UHWs Board have reached out to our Local to express how grateful they are that, through 1021s engagement, UHW is endorsing Eric Mar for Supervisor. Only months ago, this would have been unfathomable. UHWs political alliance with San Francisco business interests through the Alliance for Jobs has not just been an issue for Labor, it has been a problem for the entire progressive community. Since UHWs trusteeship, victories for progressives in San Francisco have been few and far between. We dont think that this timing is a coincidence. With Labor united, we face a very tough fight against downtown interests. With the Citys largest local on the other side, we stand hardly a chance. Meanwhile, only months ago, SEIU State Council proposed rules to govern local endorsements through a One Voice process that would provide for the possibility of per-cap votes if Locals disagreed on an endorsement. Fortunately, this proposal was temporarily put off, because it would directly challenge any autonomy that we have in our endorsement process in San Francisco. While some have questioned the wisdom of the provision of the draft Framework that provides that the International designate a representative to serve as an arbitrator in the even that no agreement is reached, the agreement also provides that the arbitrator be acceptable to both Locals and for one union, one vote instead of per-cap voting. As those who care deeply about progressive politics, there is no way that we would ever support having any arbitrator who would force our Local to compromise our political principles. Further, through our Presidents ongoing discussions with the International, we have made it clear that we will not be moved away from our principles, from defending the public sector, the quality of public health care, our support and coalitions with the progressive labor unions and community organizations, and supporting candidates that champion our issues and are not threats to UHW. And while we all consider ourselves progressives, unionists, and rank-and-file reformers who are very critical of the International, at the very least, we can all agree that Mary Kay Henry is not Andy Stern. Given the importance of this issue and the problems with process so far, we will be in attendance Thursday night to answer any questions you may have about the proposed Framework. At no time was it ever our intention to force a reckless decision, one made without as much background and deliberation as possible. Tomorrow night, we are looking forward to a spirited and principled discussion about the Framework on its merits. We also are looking forward to carrying on similar conversations across our Local, as our relationship with UHW impacts us most places we work. Moving forward, we are excited about working with you to continue to build our political program. With the recent hiring of Pete Castelli from CNA as our Lead Director, we are confident that we have assembled an aggressive and principled team who will help our Local develop into the strongest, progressive political force in Northern California. In Solidarity, Alysabeth Alexander PAC Chair Larry Bradshaw 3rd Vice-President Chris Daly Political Director