SEIU

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) began in 1921 as a janitors’ union, eventually branching out to include government and healthcare workers.

Over the years, their success has been attributed to mergers with smaller unions and savvy targeting of unskilled, low-wage labor forces and groups not traditionally courted by labor organizations, such as healthcare workers. But not all their steps have been good ones.

It all adds up to a significant loss of membership and power – which may make you wonder if this is the group you want representing your interests.

The SEIU is a union that’s had its share of challenges – and now, they may be looking to you to help them with their troubles. You need to ask yourself if SEIU is the group you want representing your interests and if their services are worth the cost of dues.

What It Means to be a SEIU Member

SEIU members are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the SEIU constitution.

At least some SEIU members aren’t happy with the union’s representation, 5,280 unfair labor practice (ULPs) charges have been filed against the union since 2014, according to Bloomberg BNA.

Learn More about SEIU

Membership

The last several decades have seen steady stagnation for union membership in our industry with just 6.9% of healthcare and social assistance workers belonging to a union in 2023. And no growth over multiple decades, during a time when all other costs have increased? That spells trouble for any union.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

And the SEIU is no exception. Since 2019, this union has lost more than 117,000 members – a significant drop.

Source: Bloomberg BNA

Unsatisfied Customers

The SEIU seems to have a problem holding on to its members. After years of struggle against the SEIU, 100,000 members left to form the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).

What’s more, since 2014, the SEIU has been involved in 434 petitions for decertification – petitions made by union members who wanted to vote out the union. And how many did they win? Just 83 – 19%. Not a good sign for the SEIU.

Source: Bloomberg BNA

Where's the money going?

The SEIU is a big business, surviving on dues from hard-working members. The SEIU is required each year to file a document called an “LM-2” which reports the union’s most recent financial flow.

See the latest SEIU LM-2 report

In 2023, the SEIU International LM-2 Report stated that the union collected over $287 million in cash receipts and spent more than $293 million.

That’s right, the SEIU somehow managed to pay out $5.7 MILLION more than it collected.

SEIU Members

The SEIU collected over $287 million, but how much did it spend on behalf of individual members? According to the LM-2, the Union responded to this item as follows:

So, where is the money going?

A chunk of the money pays top union official salaries and costly operating expenses. The SEIU paid more than $41 million for the combined salaries and expenses of its officers and employees. And disbursements for SEIU benefits totaled over $21 million.

Take a look at the chart below which breaks down how the SEIU spent its money.

Other: Contributions, Gifts, and Grants; Per Capita Tax; Loans Made; Strike Benefits; Fines, Fees, and Assessments; Supplies for Resale; Repayment of Loans Obtained; On Behalf of Affiliates; On Behalf of Individual Members; Withheld but Not Disbursed. Source for all figures: 2024 SEIU LM-2 Report

Strike Record

Since 2014, the SEIU has been involved in 362 strikes, which put more than 306,000 of
their members out of work.

SEIU Work Stoppages
Year	# Beginning in Year	# of Workers Involved
2014	17	6,918
2015	7	5,169
2016	9	10,227
2017	17	7,843
2018	18	2,462
2019	13	6,615
2020	15	20,273
2021	27	47,378
2022	138	18,877
2023	101	180,851
Totals	362	306,613

Source: Bloomberg BNA

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Membership

Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsAnd the SEIU is no exception. Since 2019, this union has lost more than 117,000 members – a significant drop.

Source: Bloomberg BNAUnsatisfied Customers The SEIU seems to have a problem holding on to its members. After years of struggle against the SEIU, 100,000 members left to form the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). What’s more, since 2014, the SEIU has been involved in 434 petitions for decertification – petitions made by union members who wanted to vote out the union. And how many did they win? Just 83 – 19%. Not a good sign for the SEIU.

Source: Bloomberg BNA

Where’s the money going?

The SEIU is a big business, surviving on dues from hard-working members. The SEIU is required each year to file a document called an “LM-2” which reports the union’s most recent financial flow. See the latest SEIU LM-2 reportIn 2023, the SEIU International LM-2 Report stated that the union collected over $287 million in cash receipts and spent more than $293 million. That’s right, the SEIU somehow managed to pay out $5.7 MILLION more than it collected. SEIU Members The SEIU collected over $287 million, but how much did it spend on behalf of individual members? According to the LM-2, the Union responded to this item as follows:

So, where is the money going? A chunk of the money pays top union official salaries and costly operating expenses. The SEIU paid more than $41 million for the combined salaries and expenses of its officers and employees. And disbursements for SEIU benefits totaled over $21 million. Take a look at the chart below which breaks down how the SEIU spent its money.

Strike Record

Since 2014, the SEIU has been involved in 362 strikes, which put more than 306,000 of their members out of work.

SEIU Work Stoppages
Year	# Beginning in Year	# of Workers Involved
2014	17	6,918
2015	7	5,169
2016	9	10,227
2017	17	7,843
2018	18	2,462
2019	13	6,615
2020	15	20,273
2021	27	47,378
2022	138	18,877
2023	101	180,851
Totals	362	306,613

Source: Bloomberg BNA