A successful union in an era of decline: interrogating the growth of the Service Employees International Union, 1980-1995

ABSTRACT

Between 1980 and 1995, while John Sweeney was president, the membership of the Service Employees International Union rose from around 600,000 to over 1.1 million. It continued to increase after 1995, making the SEIU the largest and fastest-growing union in the country. This growth was remarkable because it occurred at a terrible time for unions, one where the overwhelming emphasis – in both the media and academic scholarship – was on labor’s decline. While scholars have noted the SEIU’s growth, there has been little sustained analysis of how it was achieved. Existing accounts also posit growth largely as a reflection of the union’s organizing prowess. Drawing on the SEIU’s papers and interviews, this article argues that the union’s growth under Sweeney did reflect its commitment to organizing. At the same time, the article makes a fresh contribution by showing that the SEIU also grew because of lesser-known factors, including the affiliation of independent unions and legislative advances in public sector rights. The SEIU also benefited from operating in a growing sector of the economy, where low-paid workers needed unions. These conclusions are developed through analysis of “flagship” drives at Beverly Nursing homes, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the high-profile “Justice for Janitors” campaign.

KEYWORDS:

• Organizing
• service sector
• trade unions
• history
• trade unions
• contemporary

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the staff of the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University for their help, especially SEIU archivist Sarah Lebovitz.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. ‘SEIU: A Profile of Growth, Membership and Union Density,’ SEIU Research Department Report, October 1991, p. 2, folder 6, box 137, SEIU Executive Office: John Sweeney Records, SEIU Papers, held at the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University, Detroit (hereafter cited as ‘Sweeney files, SEIU Papers’).

2. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO, October 3–6, 1983, p. 116.

3. In another similar example, the Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette declared that the SEIU had a ‘frequently successful strategy, a reputation for tenaciousness, and a diverse and growing membership.’ See (Eckelbecker, 1994).

4. John J. Sweeney, ‘No Goodbyes,’ Service Employees Union, December 1995, p. 7, in folder 2, box 12, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers. Service Employees Union was the SEIU’s official journal.

5. As noted above, the SEIU’s Papers are held at the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University in Detroit. Spanning hundreds of boxes that stretch back to the SEIU’s foundation in 1921, the collection provides detailed insights into the union’s history. This article chiefly draws on President John Sweeney’s Executive Office Papers (178 boxes), as well as the records of the Organizing Department (7 boxes).

6. This article draws on the author’s interviews with most of the SEIU’s key leaders and strategists from the 1980s and 1990s, including John Sweeney, Andy Stern (organizing director from 1984 to 1996), Anna Burger, Karen Nussbaum (the cofounder of pioneering women office workers’ group 9to5), Bob Welsh, Jon Hiatt, Stewart Acuff, Denise Mitchell, and Gerry Shea. Several of these figures, including Acuff and Burger, were grassroots activists in this period but later rose up the ranks.

7. John Sweeney address to SEIU’s Women’s Conference, September 18–19, 1989, folder 21, box 120, Sweeney Files, SEIU Papers.

8. ‘SEIU: A Profile of Growth, Membership and Union Density,’ SEIU Research Department Report, October 1991, pp. 6–7, folder 6, box 137, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

9. ‘A Decade of Progress: 3,000 Victories – 300,000 Workers,’ SEIU 1980 Organizing Convention Report, folder 7, box 142, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

10. John J. Sweeney, ‘No Goodbyes,’ Service Employees Union, December 1995, p. 7, in folder 2, box 12, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers.

11. Andrew L. Stern to John J. Sweeney, 3 December 1985 (first quotation); Andy Stern to Bob Welsh, 8 April 1986, and Andrew L. Stern to John Sweeney, 9 October 1985 (second quotation), all in folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

12. John Sweeney, ‘SEIU Has Clout, and We Are Going to Use It,’ Service Employee, July 1980, p. 9, in folder 1, box 19, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers.

13. AFL-CIO Executive Council Minutes, July 31–1 August 1990, p. 15, box 104, AFL-CIO Papers, held at the Hornbake Library, University of Maryland at College Park (hereafter cited as ‘AFL-CIO Papers’).

14. Andrew L. Stern to John J. Sweeney, 3 December 1985, folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (first quotation); ‘Regional Conference – Organizing Workshop,’ 10 June 1986, folder 11, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (other quotations).

15. SEIU Membership Report, Year Ending June 1990, p. 4, and SEIU Membership Report, December 1991, pp. 2–3, both in folder 3, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

16. Eugene Moats, ‘Report on the Joint Council,’ ca. 1985, folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; ‘SEIU: A Profile of Growth, Membership and Union Density,’ SEIU Research Department Report, October 1991, pp. 6–7, folder 6, box 137, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

17. Andrew L. Stern to John Sweeney, 5 June 1985, folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

18. ‘Organizing Analysis,’ 1990, folder 22, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (quotation); Andrew L. Stern to John J. Sweeney, 17 July 1985, folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

19. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO, October 3–6, 1983, p. 121.

20. Marcia McGill to Bob Welsh (Per Capita Analysis memo), 14 December 1989, folder 4, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers; Robert S. Sarason to Dave Rodich, 15 May 1989, folder 43, box 84, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (quotation).

21. ‘Organizing Analysis,’ 1990 (quotations), and ‘Elections in Local Order Sequence,’ ca. 1990, both in folder 22, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

22. ‘Beverly Enterprises,’ (company analysis), September 1992, folder 55, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

23. SEIU Membership Report, Year Ending December 1992, folder 3, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

24. John Sweeney address to SEIU’s Women’s Conference, September 18–19, 1989, folder 21, box 120, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; ‘The Economy and the Labor Movement,’ Committee on the Future Report, December 1994, folder 17, box 137, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

25. ‘Ecumenical Meeting: Shiloh Baptist Family Life Center,’ 11 April 1988, folder 8, box 118, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

26. Drew Von Bergen, United Press International Newswire, 27 January 1983, folder 43, box 110, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; ‘Statement by John J. Sweeney, Lansing, Michigan,’ 9 September 1983, folder 11, box 111, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (quotation).

27. ‘Staff Analysis of Whittier Care Center Election,’ 7 November 1986, folder 54, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

28. Drew Von Bergen, United Press International Newswire (untitled story), 27 January 1983, clipping in folder 43, box 110, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

29. Mark Splain to Gerry Shea, Andy Stern, David Chu, and David Snapp, 1 December 1985, folder 2, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

30. ‘Year of the Nursing Home Worker,’ September 1992, folder 55, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (first and third quotations); Marion Dozier, ‘Octopus,’ November 1986, in folder 54, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (second quotation).

31. AFL-CIO Executive Council Minutes, February 20–24, 1984, p. 28, box 99, AFL-CIO Papers (first quotation); Andrew L. Stern to All Organizers and Field Representatives, 16 July 1985, folder 4, box 102, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (second quotation).

32. ‘Nursing Homes and Union Density,’ (SEIU Data), 19 November 1992, folder 55, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

33. ‘Top Ten Nursing Home Chains Nationwide,’ and ‘Beverly Nursing Homes and Union Representation,’ (campaign analysis), 14 September 1992, folder 55, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers; Dave Snapp to Dan Stewart, Amy Steer, and Andy Stern, 11 March 1992, folder 55, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (quotations).

34. Kirkland cited in John J. Sweeney to All Locals, 16 August 1985, folder 13, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; ‘Agenda: Blue Cross/Blue Shield Campaign Steering Committee,’ 23 August 1988, folder 17, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers. The other unions involved were the United Automobile Workers, the Communications Workers of America, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and the Office and Professional Employees International Union.

35. ‘Background on the Coordinated Organizing Program on Behalf of Clerical Employees of Blue Cross/Blue Shield,’ August 1985, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

36. SEIU, ‘Preliminary Research Report on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association,’ (confidential), December 1985, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers; ‘Initial Cleared Targets,’ ca. 1986, folder 17, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; Barbara Bowen to Kevin Kistler, Charles McDonald, Dick Wilson, and Ed Feigen, September 23–24, 1986, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers, quotation.

37. Barbara Bowen to Kevin Kistler, Charles McDonald, Dick Wilson, and Ed Feigen, September 23–24, 1986, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

38. Barbara Bowen to Kevin Kistler, Charles McDonald, Dick Wilson, and Ed Feigen, September 23–24, 1986, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (first quotation); Andrew L. Stern to John J. Sweeney, 28 August 1985, folder 13, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (second quotation); Kim Cook, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Cleveland December 1986 Monthly Report, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (third quotation).

39. ‘HV Rap,’ nd., folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

40. Steve Hochman to B. Ladin, J. Ruff, J. Ross, K, Nussbaum, K. Cook, and A. Hill, 15 August 1986, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (first quotation); AFL-CIO Executive Council Minutes, February 16–20, 1987, p. 25, box 102, AFL-CIO Papers (second quotation).

41. Gail Gabler to Jackie Ruff, 27 August 1987, folder 14, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (‘nice guy’ quotation); John Anderson to All Employees, 12 August 1987, folder 14, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (other quotation).

42. ‘Management Listens! Management Responds! Management Cares!’ (BCBSO Employees Opposed to Unionization flyer), ca. August 1987, folder 14, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (first and second quotations); Andrew L. Stern to John J. Sweeney, 28 August 1985, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (third and fourth quotations); Virginia Diamond to Organizing Directors, 11 February 1988, folder 17, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers (fifth quotation).

43. Steve Hochman to B. Ladin, J. Ruff, J. Ross, K, Nussbaum, K. Cook, and A. Hill, 15 August 1986, folder 12, box 5, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (first quotation); Virginia Diamond to Organizing Directors, 11 February 1988, folder 17, box 164, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers; Bruce D. Butterfield.

44. John Howley, ‘Justice for Janitors: Union Strategy in Contract Services,’ (SEIU Policy Paper), folder 29, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers (quotations).

45. ‘Ecumenical Meeting: Shiloh Baptist Family Life Center,’ 11 April 1988, folder 8, box 118, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

46. Ray Abernathy to Andy Stern, 18 January 1990, folder 34, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers; ‘Summary of Justice for Janitors Endorsers,’ 11 April 1988; Walter E. Fauntroy to Friend, 8 March 1988 (first quotation); Msgr. George G. Higgins, ‘Justice for Janitors,’ ca. 1988 (second quotation), and Coretta Scott King to Brothers and Sisters, 14 March 1988 (third quotation), all in folder 8, box 118, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

47. ‘ISS Signs 399’s Master Building Service Agreement,’ Voice of Local 399, folder 11, box 62, SEIU Publications collection, SEIU Papers.

48. ‘Century City Demonstration Ends in Police Trap, Police Violence,’ Voice of Local 399, June 1990, p. 1, folder 11, box 62, SEIU Publications collection, SEIU Papers.

49. ‘The Story of the Strike,’ Voice of Local 399, June 1990, p. 6, in folder 11, box 62, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers; ‘A Strike Heard Around the World,’ Service Employees Union, Fall 1990, p. 5, in folder 2, box 12, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers (quotation).

50. Lerner to List, 10 July 1990, folder 37, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

51. ‘La Campana de Justicia para Los Conserjes del Local 399 Gana su Primer Contracto con ISS,’ Justicia Para Conserjes! (Voice of Local 399 Spanish Edition) July 1990, p. 1, in folder 11, box 62, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers.

52. ‘Statement by John J. Sweeney, President, Service Employees International Union,’ 1 August 1989, folder 7, box 120, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

53. John Howley, ‘Justice for Janitors: Union Strategy in Contract Services,’ (SEIU Policy Paper), December 1989, folder 29, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

54. John Howley, ‘Justice for Janitors: Union Strategy in Contract Services,’ (SEIU Policy Paper), December 1989, folder 29, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

55. Rob Shuler to Stephen Lerner, 12 September 1989, folder 34, box 6, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers; ‘SEIU: A Profile of Growth, Membership and Union Density,’ SEIU Research Department Report, October 1991, p. 15, folder 6, box 137, Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

56. John Sweeney address to SEIU’s Women’s Conference, September 18–19, 1989, folder 21, box 120, SEIU Executive Office: John Sweeney Records, SEIU Papers (quotations).

57. ‘SEIU: A Profile of Growth, Membership and Union Density,’ SEIU Research Department Report, October 1991, p. 15, folder 6, box 137; ‘SEIU Workshop on Women Leadership Development,’ (Agenda), 30 October 1991, folder 48, box 124; John Sweeney address to SEIU’s Women’s Conference, September 18–19, 1989, folder 21, box 120, all in Sweeney files, SEIU Papers.

58. John J. Sweeney, ‘No Goodbyes,’ Service Employees Union, December 1995, p. 7, in folder 2, box 12, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers.

59. ‘Talking Points for JJS: Transportation Trades Department Executive Board Meeting, Las Vegas, NV,’ 4 March 2007, ‘3/4/07 – TTD Executive Committee Mtg. Las Vegas’ folder, box 1, AR2009-0024, AFL-CIO Papers.

60. ‘Organizing Analysis,’ 1990, folder 22, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

61. UNITE HERE was itself created by a 2004 merger of UNITE, the textile union, and HERE, the hotel workers union.

62. SEIU Membership Report, Year Ending December 1992, folder 3, box 2, SEIU Organizing Department Records, SEIU Papers.

63. John J. Sweeney, ‘No Goodbyes,’ Service Employees Union, December 1995, p. 7, in folder 2, box 12, SEIU Publications Collection, SEIU Papers.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council [Discovery Project 160,100,445].

Notes on contributors

Timothy J. Minchin

Timothy J. Minchin is a professor of North American History at La Trobe University in Melbourne. He has written widely on labor history and civil rights history. His previous books include Hiring the Black Worker: The Racial Integration of the Southern Textile Industry, 1960–1980 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1999), and Empty Mills: The Fight against Imports and the Decline of the U.S. Textile Industry (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2013). A major study of the AFL-CIO, his most recent book is Labor Under Fire: A History of the AFL-CIO since 1979 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2017).