Service Employees International Union: The Organizing Union

Ann Spears confronts hospital security guards, 1976

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:18:00 -0400

Organizer Ann Spears confronts hospital security guards during an impromptu teach-in, 1976. By that time, she had organized over 1,500 members for Local 50.

Bill Quesse, founding president

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:57:01 -0400

Cemetery worker, 1982

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:57:38 -0400

Mowing the grass at a Washington, D.C. cemetery, 1982.

Executive Order 10988

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:17:23 -0400

Public sector unions received a boost in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988, which granted bargaining rights to federal employees. The pace of organizing among all public sector unions subsequently accelerated.

Fairchild to Hare Correspondence, 1959

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:33:53 -0400

This March 1959 letter illustrates the growing importance of public sector organizing for SEIU.

Local 1877 Security Officer, 2006

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:16 -0400

Local 1877 security officer William Edwards, 2006.

Local 250 member passing out leaflets, 1993

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:30:50 -0400

Local 250 member passing out leaflets to motorists outside of Fairmont Hospital, San Leandro, California, 1993.

Local 250 organizes Chinese Hospital employees

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:06:13 -0400

In Mandarin Chinese, these signs combine to read: “[San Francisco’s] Chinese Hospital employees agree to join union – [Local] 250,” n.d.

Local 285 Boston City employees, 1958

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:36:21 -0400

SEIU Local 285 distributed this poster throughout Boston to convince city employees to join its ranks, 1958.

Photographer: Burke & Dean

Local 3036 Member, 1990

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:42:01 -0400

Local 3036 taxi driver, New York City, 1990 (Notice the fare rates.)

Photographer: Martha Tabor

Local 32B Headquarters, 1954

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:55:11 -0400

SEIU Local 32B headquarters, New York City, 1954. The local was founded in 1934 by striking elevator operators. In 1976, Local 32B was SEIU’s largest local with 42,801 members.

Local 46 Chicago city workers, 1929

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:51:34 -0400

This 1929 article by William McFetridge, appearing in SEIU’s main publication, Public Safety, helps to illustrate the union’s long history of organizing public sector workers.

Local 50 Member Linda Kerr

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:07:51 -0400

Linda Kerr, a waitress employed by the River Boat Casino and member of SEIU Local 50, St. Louis, Missouri, circa 1985-1995.

Photographer: Cliff Willis

Local 616 Alameda County Employees Association, 1973

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:40:07 -0400

The 4000-member Alameda County Employees Association became Local 616 of SEIU in 1973. Here, they jam the halls during contract negotiations with the county supervisors.

Local 82 Janitor Cleaning Blinds

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:39:09 -0400

A member of Local 82 in Washington, D.C. cleans blinds, n.d.

Local 82 Janitor Training

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:42:46 -0400

An instructor at the SEIU Custodial School in Washington, D.C. explains how to operate equipment used to clean large buildings, n.d.

Local 82 Member

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:50:38 -0400

A secretary from Local 82 at work, circa 1965-1975.

Local 999 Receives Charter, 1973

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:38:58 -0400

Local 999 receives its charter from the international, Clarksburg, West Virginia, 1973.

Mayor Richard Daley's Annual Clean-Up Campaign

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:04:59 -0400

Chicago Flat Janitors Local 1 marchers, April 15, 1958. The marchers are part of a parade for Mayor Richard Daley’s annual Clean-Up Campaign.

Courtesy: Burke & Dean Photographers

Milwaukee SEIU Member, 1950

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:12:37 -0400

A Milwaukee SEIU member feeds one of the city zoo’s residents, 1950.

People and Divisions of SEIU

ljones — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:39:17 -0400

Image captures diversity of people and industries organized by SEIU during the 1940's.

SEIU Charter Application

ljones — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:16:42 -0400

Application for Certificate of Affiliation to the American Federation of Labor, April 23, 1921. Bearing the names of SEIU’s founders, this was the union’s first alliance with a major labor federation.

Courtesy of the George Meany Memorial Archives

SEIU Headquarters, 1954

ljones — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:21:46 -0400

SEIU headquarters, 1954. SEIU maintained its headquarters in Chicago until 1963 when it relocated to Washington, D.C. This was also home to the Chicago Flat Janitors Local 1.

SEIU Publication Service Employee, April 1981

ljones — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:17 -0400

Office workers joined the SEIU fold as District 925 in 1981. Their ambitious organizing efforts empowered many women and a few good men.

Workers at San Francisco General Hospital, 1930's

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:09:08 -0400

Workers at San Francisco General Hospital, ca. 1937. In 1941, the San Francisco Hospital Conference signed an historic master agreement with SEIU Local 250.

(7264) Local 205 member Mary Sue Dabbs

ljones — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:13:33 -0400

Mary Sue Dabbs of Local 205 says: “I will vote ‘yes’ for SEIU on April 9 for equality. A contract informs both parties of their equal rights. In this way, the RN’s have input in the decisions, which otherwise would be the administration’s alone,” n.d.