National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) is a California-based health care workers’ union that claims 16,000 members as of August 2022. [1] [2] The union splintered from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in 2010 amid a dispute over the leadership of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). [3]
NUHW has said its work “will never be complete until we create an anti-racist healthcare system.” [4] NUHW has also said it will work to “enshrine” abortion rights into federal law, [5] holds that the critical race theory-influenced concept of “medical racism” is a problem across the United States, [6] and has implemented critical race theory-influenced “anti-racism trainings.” [7] NUHW also operates as a “sanctuary union,” [8] pledging to do “everything in its power” to protect all of its members, their families, and patients, including illegal immigrants. [9]
The union views political action as “critical in the healthcare industry.” [10] According to filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, NUHW spent $1,292,736 on political activities and lobbying in 2020. [11]
Background
National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) is a California-based health care workers labor union. [12] NUHW claims it is one of the fastest-growing healthcare workers unions in the United States [13] and claims more than 16,000 members as of August 2022. [14]
NUHW claims descent from SEIU Local 250, founded in 1934. [15] In the early 2000s, SEIU Local 250 became SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW). In 2009, NUHW split away from UHW amid a hostile takeover attempt from the national SEIU union. [16] [17]
In 2013, a federal court of appeals upheld a $1.57 million judgement against former UHW labor union leader and new NUHW officer Sal Rosselli, the NUHW, and other officers accused of improperly diverting SEIU resources when they left the SEIU and UHWW to form a rival labor organization. The lower court jury had found that the defendants were “rogue local union officials who diverted union resources in an attempt to establish a new competing union,” in the words of the appellate opinion. [18] [19]
Advocacy Activities
In 2022, National Union of Healthcare Workers opposed the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the ruling a “devastating decision.” In a press release, NUHW said it will work to “enshrine” abortion rights into federal law. [20]
NUHW expresses the view that “healthcare is a human right” [21] and has said its work “will never be complete until we create an anti-racist healthcare system.” [22] NUHW affirms that the critical race theory-influenced concept of “medical racism” is a problem across the United States [23] and has sought ways for it to become involved in critical race theory-inspired initiatives, including the defunding police. [24]
The union has also implemented critical race theory-influenced “anti-racism trainings” and discussed ways how it can adhere to what it identifies as its “culture of inclusivity” and to help “dismantle white supremacy culture.” [25]
In February 2022, NUHW honored individuals it identified as African American changemakers, including Black Lives Matter co-founder Ayo Tometi, radical-left critical race theory-inspired author Ibram X. Kendi, Black Lives Matter online movement co-founder Patrisse Cullors, U.S. Rep Cori Bush (D-MO), unsuccessful 2018 Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D), labor unionist and A. Philip Randolph Institute namesake A. Philip Randolph, and others. [26]
NUHW is a “sanctuary union” [27] and has pledged to do “everything in its power” to protect all of its members, their families, and patients, including illegal immigrants. [28] During the COVID-19 pandemic, NUHW opposed the detention of illegal immigrants and supported the release of prisoners. [29]
NUHW also supports the left-progressive policy of a single payer, Medicare for All, healthcare system, [30] [31] the suppression of online speech under the guise of shutting down disinformation, and is a member of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)’s Stop Hate for Profit campaign. [32]
NUHW has offices in Emoryville and Glendale, California, and in Washington, D.C. [33]
Political Activities
National Union of Healthcare Workers views political action as “critical in the healthcare industry.” [34] According to filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, NUHW spent $1,292,736 on political activities and lobbying in 2020. [35]
NUHW’s candidate questionnaires include a question asking candidates if they have “taken concrete steps to support the work” of Black Lives Matter and the Movement for Black Lives, including asking for an explanation if candidates have not done so. [36]
In 2021, NUHW opposed the attempted recall of California Governor Gavin Newsom (D). [37] In 2020, NUHW endorsed the 2020 presidential primary campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) [38] and supported the removal of then-President Donald Trump. [39] In 2018, NUHW supported Democratic Party control of the U.S. House of Representatives and stood in “full support” of then-minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. [40] [41]
NUHW is associated with three political action committees (PACs): NUHW Candidate Committee for Quality and Union Democracy PAC, NUHW Federal Committee on Political Education, and the NUHW Issues Committee for Quality Patient Care and Union Democracy. [42] [43]
During the 2020 election cycle, the National Union of Healthcare Workers Federal Committee on Political Action received $448,485.24 of contributions and spent $552,776.54. [44] Its disbursements included $25,000 to Courage California Super PAC; $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC); $10,000 to then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)’s unsuccessful presidential campaign; $10,000 to Take Back 2020; and $5,000 to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D), U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and others. [45]
Funding
National Union of Healthcare Workers is funded by member dues that constitute 1.5 percent of a member’s straight-time hourly base wage rate. [46] [47]
In 2020, NUHW reported revenue of $12,589,546 and expenses of $11,973,276. [48]
Leadership
Labor union activist Sal Rosselli is the president of National Union of Healthcare Workers. [49] Rosselli was the president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West until 2009, when that union was placed into trusteeship after Rosselli opposed an SEIU headquarters-backed merger of UHW into another local SEIU union. [50]