activities · 35
what they do
direct service · 11
- Administer disaster relief funds for members Union and Mutual Aid Disaster ReliefManages and distributes a relief fund to support union members impacted by natural disasters in California.
- Disaster relief fund for members Union and Mutual Aid Disaster ReliefAdministers a relief fund to provide financial and practical support to union members affected by natural disasters in California.
- Member benefits and education programs Member Support ServicesProvides union members with free financial workshops and tuition-free healthcare education opportunities for their loved ones.
- Member benefits and support services Member Support ServicesProvides direct services to members including free financial workshops, tuition-free healthcare education for members' loved ones, and a relief fund for members affected by natural disasters.
- Member communication and digital platformOperates MyUHW, a members-only digital portal that connects healthcare workers with union stewards and representatives to facilitate communication and support.
- Member communication and engagement platformOperates MyUHW, a members-only digital portal that connects healthcare workers with union stewards and representatives to facilitate communication and support.
- Member support and benefits services Member Support ServicesProvides direct support to members through a relief fund for those affected by natural disasters, free financial workshops, and tuition-free healthcare education opportunities for members' loved ones.
- Member support portal (MyUHW)Operates MyUHW, a members-only digital platform that connects healthcare workers with union stewards and representatives for support and communication.
- Operate a members-only digital support portalRuns MyUHW, an online platform that connects healthcare workers with union stewards and representatives for support and communication.
- Provide member education and financial support services Member Support ServicesOffers free financial workshops and tuition-free healthcare education opportunities for union members and their families as part of member benefits.
- Regional member service operationsOperates regional offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Diego to provide localized support and services to members and healthcare workers.
advocacy · 24
- Advisory appointments to Executive BoardAppoints key advisory roles to the Executive Board, including one Ethics Officer and one Financial Officer for each of the Hospitals and Kaiser divisions.
- Appoint advisory roles to union governance bodiesAppoints Ethics Officers and Financial Officers for each of the two divisions (Hospitals and Kaiser) to support the Executive Board.
- Ballot initiative advocacyOrganizes signature collection and advocacy campaigns to place legislation such as the California Billionaire Tax Act on the ballot, aiming to advance economic justice and public funding priorities.
- Collective bargaining and contract negotiation Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationNegotiates union contracts that secure guaranteed raises, fully paid family healthcare, and retirement benefits for healthcare workers across California.
- Conduct internal union elections and governance Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationConducts mail ballot elections for union leadership, including President, Vice-President, and Executive Committee members, and allocates board positions based on membership size and geography.
- Conduct mass mobilizations for healthcare and economic justice Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingParticipates in large-scale public actions and rallies to advocate for economic justice and increased healthcare funding, engaging thousands of healthcare workers and supporters.
- Division-level Executive Committee elections Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationElected 25 division-specific Executive Committee members across Hospitals and Kaiser divisions based on membership size and geographic representation.
- Executive Board structure and representation Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationAllocates 257 Executive Board member positions across Hospitals and Kaiser divisions based on membership size and geographic equity.
- Internal union governance and elections Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationConducts democratic internal elections for union leadership, including union-wide Executive Board positions (President, Vice-President, and Executive Committee members), division-specific representatives, and retiree representatives. Allocates board positions and appoints advisory officers based on membership size and divisional structure.
- Mass mobilization for economic and healthcare justice Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingParticipates in and coordinates large-scale mobilizations to advocate for economic justice, healthcare worker rights, and sustainable healthcare funding in California.
- Member representation and advocacy Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationRepresents over 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare consumers in California through policy advocacy and collective action.
- Negotiate union contracts with comprehensive benefits Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationNegotiates collective bargaining agreements that secure guaranteed raises, fully paid family healthcare, and retirement benefits for healthcare workers across California.
- Negotiation of union contracts Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationNegotiates union contracts that secure guaranteed raises, fully paid family healthcare, and retirement benefits for healthcare workers across California.
- Negotiation of union contracts Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationNegotiates collective bargaining agreements that secure guaranteed raises, fully paid family healthcare, and retirement benefits for healthcare workers across California.
- Organize ballot initiatives for economic justiceLeads signature collection efforts to place the California Billionaire Tax Act on the ballot as part of broader advocacy campaigns.
- Represent healthcare workers and consumers in policy advocacy Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingAdvocates on behalf of over 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare consumers in California on issues affecting the healthcare system.
- Representation of healthcare workers and stakeholders Collective Bargaining Agreement NegotiationRepresents over 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare consumers in California through advocacy and policy engagement.
- Retiree representation in union governance Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationElected two Retiree Member Representatives, one from each division (Hospitals and Kaiser), to ensure retiree voices are included in union leadership.
- Union governance and leadership elections Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationConducts internal union elections for Executive Board leadership, including President, Vice-President, and Executive Committee members, with representation allocated by division and geography. Also elects Retiree Member Representatives and appoints advisory officers.
- Union governance and leadership elections Union Leadership Elections & RepresentationConducts democratic mail ballot elections for union-wide Executive Board leadership positions, including President, Vice-President, and Executive Committee members.
- Union organizing and member mobilization Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingOrganizes healthcare workers into the union, including signature collection for ballot initiatives and mass mobilizations for economic justice and healthcare funding. Organized over 8,500 healthcare workers into the union since 2023.
- Union organizing and member mobilization Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingOrganizes and mobilizes healthcare workers across California to join the union, having organized over 8,500 workers since 2023. Conducts mass mobilizations and signature collection efforts, such as for the California Billionaire Tax Act ballot initiative.
- Union organizing and membership growth Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingOrganizes healthcare workers into the union, having brought over 8,500 new members into SEIU UHW since 2023.
- Unionize healthcare workers Healthcare Worker Union OrganizingOrganizes and recruits healthcare workers into the union, having unionized over 8,500 workers since 2023.
strategies · 22
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advancing policy through ballot initiatives and mass mobilization ballot initiative advocacy through mass mobilizationUses large-scale mobilization events to build public and political support for ballot initiatives that increase funding for healthcare and public education via taxation of extreme wealth.
- Building alliances between patients and workers to transform healthcare patient-and-worker-allianceOrganizes patients, advocates, and healthcare consumers alongside workers to challenge profit-driven healthcare models, advancing a shared vision of equitable, patient-centered care through joint advocacy.
- Building alliances between patients and workers to transform healthcare patient-and-worker-allianceOrganizes coalitions of patients, advocates, and healthcare workers to challenge profit-centered models and advocate for a healthcare system centered on community needs and care quality.
- Democratic and proportional union governance proportional governance structureEnsures democratic representation and equitable governance by conducting mail-ballot elections and allocating leadership seats proportionally based on membership size, division, and geography to reflect the union’s diverse base.
- Democratic internal union elections democratic union election processConducts leadership elections through a constitutionally mandated mail ballot process to ensure transparency, broad participation, and democratic accountability within the union.
- Democratic union governance through proportional representation proportional governance structureEnsures democratic representation by structuring union leadership and governance bodies proportionally based on membership size and geographic and divisional distribution, including mail-ballot elections and seat allocation formulas.
- Direct member support to strengthen organizing capacity member_direct_supportProvides frontline healthcare workers with direct access to union representatives via digital channels to resolve workplace issues and strengthen organizing efforts in real time.
- Enforcing Weingarten rights for fair disciplinary processes weingarten_rightsUtilizes the legal framework of Weingarten rights to guarantee union representation during management-led disciplinary interviews, protecting worker rights and ensuring due process.
- Frontline worker organizing in private healthcare systems frontline-worker-organizingOrganizes frontline healthcare workers across major private-sector healthcare institutions in California to build collective power, improve working conditions, and advocate for systemic improvements in patient care.
- Frontline worker organizing to strengthen collective power frontline-worker-organizingOrganizes frontline healthcare workers across major private healthcare systems in California to build union strength, improve working conditions, and advocate for patient-centered care.
- Mass mobilization for ballot initiative advocacy ballot initiative advocacy through mass mobilizationUses large-scale mobilization events and grassroots campaigns to advance ballot initiatives that increase public funding for healthcare and education through taxation of extreme wealth, leveraging collective action to influence policy outcomes.
- Mass mobilization for ballot initiative advocacy ballot initiative advocacy through mass mobilizationUses large-scale mobilization events to build public and political support for ballot initiatives that increase funding for healthcare and public education through taxation of extreme wealth, leveraging collective action to influence policy outcomes.
- Patient and worker alliance against profit-driven healthcare patient-and-worker-allianceBuilds coalitions between healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare consumers to challenge profit-centered models and advocate for a healthcare system centered on patient needs and worker dignity.
- Patient and worker alliances to challenge profit-driven healthcare patient-and-worker-allianceBuilds coalitions between healthcare workers, patients, and advocates to resist profit-centered healthcare models and advance a shared vision of equitable, patient-centered care grounded in collective power.
- Proportional governance by membership and geography proportional representation by membership and geographyStructures union governance with proportional representation on leadership bodies, allocating seats based on membership size (e.g., one seat per 5,000 or 500 members) and distributing them across divisions and geographic regions to ensure equitable voice.
- Union representation and governance through democratic and proportional structures proportional governance structureEnsures democratic union governance by conducting mail ballot elections and allocating leadership representation proportionally based on membership size and geographic distribution to maintain accountability and inclusivity.
- Union representation in disciplinary processes via Weingarten rights weingarten_rightsEnsures union representation during management-led disciplinary interviews using the Weingarten rights framework, protecting workers' due process and strengthening collective power in the workplace.
- Union rights protection through Weingarten framework weingarten_rightsUtilizes the Weingarten rights legal framework to ensure workers have union representation during investigatory interviews, protecting due process and strengthening workplace justice.
- Worker empowerment as a driver of patient care improvement worker-empowerment-for-patient-careAdvocates for healthcare worker empowerment, including union representation and improved working conditions, on the theory that better labor conditions lead directly to higher-quality, more reliable patient care.
- Worker empowerment as a lever for improved patient care worker-empowerment-for-patient-careAdvocates for better working conditions and union representation for healthcare workers on the premise that empowered workers provide higher-quality, safer patient care.
- Worker empowerment as a pathway to improved patient care worker-empowerment-for-patient-careAdvocates for healthcare worker empowerment—such as union representation and better working conditions—not only as a labor right but as a direct mechanism to enhance patient care quality and safety.
- Worker empowerment as a pathway to improved patient care worker-empowerment-for-patient-careAdvocates for stronger healthcare worker rights and workplace conditions based on the theory that empowered workers deliver higher-quality, more compassionate patient care, linking labor rights directly to healthcare outcomes.
named programs · 6
what they call their work
California Billionaire Tax Act Campaign
Grassroots advocacy initiative to collect signatures and mobilize support for the Billionaire Tax Act to fund healthcare and public education.
Caring for Caregivers
Wellness program focused on mental health and self-care for healthcare workers.
Healthcare Education Opportunities
Provides tuition-free healthcare education opportunities for members' loved ones.
Know Your Contract
Educational campaign to inform members about their union contracts, including guaranteed raises, fully paid family healthcare, and retirement benefits.
Natural Disaster Relief Fund
Supports members affected by natural disasters in California with emergency financial assistance.
Weingarten Rights
Ensures union members have the right to union representation during management interviews that could lead to discipline.
relationships · 13
who they work with
- Dignity Health Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Dignity Health facilities in California.
- Kaiser Permanente Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California.
- Mobilize Partner — Platform partner for hosting volunteer opportunities, events, and petitions.
- MoveOn Partner — Collaborates on organizing mass mobilizations for economic and healthcare justice.
- MyUHW Partner — Member portal used to connect union members with their representatives and resources.
- No Kings Partner — Collaborates on organizing mass mobilizations for economic and healthcare justice.
- Prime Healthcare Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Prime Healthcare facilities in California.
- SEIU California State Council Coalition — Part of the SEIU California State Council, which coordinates positions of SEIU locals on issues affecting over 700,000 workers in California.
- SEIU-UHW Election Committee Coalition — Oversees the administration and integrity of the union's leadership election process.
- Service Employees International Union Partner — SEIU-UHW is a local affiliate of the national Service Employees International Union.
- Sharp Healthcare Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Sharp Healthcare facilities in California.
- Sutter Health Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Sutter Health facilities in California.
- Tenet Partner — Represents healthcare workers employed at Tenet facilities in California.