Outside Organization Fails to Divide SEIU Members During Contract Negotiations
SALINAS, CA – SEIU Local 521 members in Monterey County's largest bargaining unit, which includes physicians' assistants, planners, librarians and clerical workers, have rejected an attempt to divide their union during contract negotiations.

NUHW – an outside group with zero members - circulated a petition among Unit J workers this year and claimed to have enough signatures to hold an election to decertify SEIU. That claim was made in error, as county officials have announced they did not gather the minimum number of signatures required. Unit J consists of about 1,650 workers.

The members have spoken, said Dean Carothers, a bargaining team member and Unit J worker. This is a clear indication that members want to stay united and focus on what really matters: protecting our contract and maintaining valuable services to the public during a budget crisis.

Prior to the county's announcement, many county workers had complained about being misled by NUHW into signing the petition. 

We have various Unfair Labor Practices that we filed because we don't believe NUHW followed the law, said Susan Ardisson, a county worker on the bargaining team. It's just a basic thing that you can't use any deception or coercion. We have been told that many people signed cards without totally understanding what they were signing.

NUHW (National Union of Healthcare Workers) is a new organization led by former SEIU leaders who were removed for financial misconduct.

Monterey County's Unit J is the latest in a series of defeats for them. The group claimed Alameda Hospital was joining their ranks, but then withdrew their petition for lack of support. Their petitions for both Kaiser and Catholic Healthcare West were also rejected by the National Labor Relations Board.

With attempts to divide workers officially out of the way, Monterey County Unit J workers can now continue with contract negotiations during a tough economic time.