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When the union and the health care system are not able to reach agreement during collective bargaining, then negotiations are at a standstill.
Union members, at this point, have only three options: Give Up, Give In, or Go on Strike.
Strikes are the only real power a union, like the SEIU, has, and it's not afraid to put members on the picket line. Since 2001, the SEIU has been involved in just over 230 strikes, which put over 150,000 of their members out of work.
Take a look at the chart below for a breakdown of the numbers.
| Year |
Number Beginning
in Year |
Number of
Workers Involved |
| 2001 |
39 |
48,153 |
| 2002 |
31 |
13,144 |
| 2003 |
31 |
13,744 |
| 2004 |
25 |
35,493 |
| 2005 |
29 |
8,007 |
| 2006 |
24 |
19,066 |
| 2007 |
14 |
8,878 |
| 2008 |
16 |
18,303 |
| 2009 |
10 |
1,948 |
| 2010 |
12 |
3,774 |
| Totals |
231 |
170,510 |
Source: Bureau of National Affairs (BNA PLUS)
When union members are put on the picket line by the SEIU, they find out first hand just what they're risking during an economic strike.
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Paychecks from the health care system may stop.
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Strikers may have to pay the entire premium for any medical, dental and vision insurance policies.
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Economic strikers don't qualify for unemployment in certain states.
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In an economic strike, strikers may be permanently replaced: The striker will go on a preferential recall list, but a replacement worker has no obligation to give up the job when the strike is over and the employer has no obligation to rehire the striking workers.
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Possible loss of customers from a strike may impact employees' job security.
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SEIU Strikes 
