Video: NUHW-SEIU Contest Puts Big Questions on Table for Labor

Labor Notes' Mark Brenner was on Democracy Now! this morning to analyze the decisive showdown between the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and the Service Employees (SEIU) coming to a head this week in California.

After 18 months of legal delays and workplace skirmishes, about 43,000 Kaiser Permanente service and technical workers in California begin voting this week on which union will represent them.

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The election puts big questions about the future of the labor movement at the forefront, Brenner says. Who's going to be in charge of the union and its relationship with the boss, staffers and top leaders in DC or members in the workplaces?

The election is a reflection of our times, he adds. With SEIU drowning workers in negative (and misleading) campaign materials, will they vote their hopes or their fears?

Mischa Gaus was the editor of Labor Notes from 2008 to 2012.mischagaus@gmail.com