The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 is an affiliate of the controversial and left-wing SEIU labor union, claiming to represent more than 50,000 workers in Chicago and ten other cities in the Midwest. ¹ SEIU Local 1 represents security officers, food service workers, airport workers, and janitors. ²

SEIU Local 1 actively pushes for left-of-center economic policy and aggressive unionization in the Midwest, pushing for aggressive minimum wage hikes, expansion of union privileges, and increased regulation of employment. In its Indianapolis chapter, SEIU Local 1 advocates for LGBT rights, immigration reform, and reforming police conduct. ³ In Wisconsin, SEIU Local 1 claims that environmentalist issues, like climate change, are directly connected to the other economic issues for which it advocates. ⁴

History

SEIU Local 1 began in the early 1900s on the South Side of Chicago, when a group of janitors decided to organize. ² Today, SEIU Local 1 works in eleven cities in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. ⁵ SEIU Local 1 claims to be “major progressive union representing 50,000 janitors, security officers, residential doorstaff, and more.” ⁶

Activities

SEIU Local 1 is a major force in Democratic politics across the Midwest, advocating for a wide range of left-of-center and progressive policies. In each of the six states where it has a presence, SEIU Local 1 has been primarily involved in advocating for minimum wage hikes, increased regulation of labor, and union expansion.

Illinois

In 2018, SEIU Local 1 endorsed labor-friendly Democratic candidate Ameya Pawar for Chicago City Treasurer, who supports strengthening unions, and a minimum wage hike. ⁶

In an effort to support the Fight for $15 movement, and union expansion, SEIU Local 1 supported left-wing Democratic candidates like J.B. Pritzker, Juliana Stratton, and Kwame Raoul, respectively for positions of Illinois governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. ⁷

Indiana

In 2017, SEIU Local 1 janitors were recognized at a Good Jobs Nation rally, alongside self-described democratic socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and retired United Steelworkers Local 1999 president Chuck Jones. ⁸

In an effort to attract younger people to its union, SEIU Local 1 in Indianapolis has started taking on less traditional union-related issues. Instead, it is rallying and protesting for left-of-center activist issues like LGBT rights, immigration reform, and reforming police conduct. ³

Ohio

SEIU Local 1 is a longtime supporter of the SEIU’s Justice for Janitors campaign, especially in cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati. The Justice for Janitors campaign started in 1990 in Los Angeles, and SEIU Local 1 northern Ohio coordinator, Yanela Sims, claims that labor issues for janitors are “still pretty much the same.” ⁹

Wisconsin

Along with advocating for labor rights, and a minimum wage hike, SEIU Local 1 is a vocal supporter of Governor Tony Evers (D), especially his “clean energy” executive order for Wisconsin. SEIU Local 1 claims that environmental issues, like climate change, are directly connected to the other economic issues for which it advocates. ⁴ Gov. Evers is a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition that is determined to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement, and supports the Green New Deal. ¹⁰

People and Funding

SEIU Local 1 reported 50,453 members on its 2019 filing with the Department of Labor, and reports $29,215,795 in income from dues paid by its members. Its member dues appear to be income-based, and include initiation fees up to $300, regular dues up to $102.55, and a “work permit” for $35 per month. ¹¹

Board of Directors

SEIU Local 1 has a leadership structure consisting of three primary officers, twelve vice presidents, and an Executive Board consisting of close to fifty people. ¹²

Tom Balanoff is the president of SEIU Local 1, and the SEIU Illinois State Council. Balanoff serves as the Vice President of the SEIU international executive board. Balanoff formerly worked for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the Allied Industrial Workers of America International Union, the Cement Workers Union, and is the former president of SEIU Local 73. Balanoff was an early supporter of Barack Obama, and pushed for SEIU’s primary endorsement of Obama for President. Balanoff is currently involved in the Fight for $15 movement, and in organizing airport workers in Chicago. ¹³

As president of the SEIU Illinois State Council, Balanoff endorsed Marie Newman for Congress, a left-progressive Democratic candidate supporting a hike in the minimum wage, Medicare-for-All, and the Green New Deal. ^{14 15}

Balanoff has personally contributed over $10,000 to the Service Employees International Union PAC, along with other donations to democratic candidates like Barack Obama, John Kerry, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), and State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). ¹⁶

According to its 2019 filing, union president Tom Balanoff earned $247,890, secretary-treasurer Laura Garza earned $172,119, and recording secretary Lonnell Saffold earned $118,876. Of the thirteen vice presidents listed in this filing, eleven were paid more that $100,000, with Rita Genie Kastrup earning $168,683. ¹⁷

1. “Our Members.” SEIU Local 1. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/our-members/.
2. “About.” SEIU Local 1. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/about/.
3. “Labor movement turns to social activism to attract millennials.” SEIU Local 1, July 27, 2017. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2017/07/27/labor-movement-turns-to-social-activism-to-attract-millennials/.
4. “SEIU Local 1 Applauds Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ Clean Energy Executive Order.” SEIU Local 1, August 20, 2019. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2019/08/20/seiu-local-1-applauds-wisconsin-gov-tony-evers-clean-energy-executive-order/.
5. “States.” SEIU Local 1. Accessed April 11, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/states/.
6. “SEIU Local 1 Endorses Ameya Pawar for Chicago City Treasurer.” SEIU Local 1. December 10, 2018. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2018/12/10/seiu-local-1-endorses-ameya-pawar-chicago-city-treasurer/.
7. “Local 1 Members Fired Up to Vote at JB Pritzker Rally.” SEIU Local 1, October 24, 2018. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2018/10/24/local-1-members-fired-vote-jb-pritzker-rally/.
8. “SEIU Local 1 Members Join Senator Bernie Sanders and Chuck Jones on stage at the “Good Jobs Nation” Rally.” SEIU Local 1, August 21, 2017. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2017/08/21/seiu-local-1-members-join-senator-bernie-sanders-and-chuck-jones-on-stage-at-the-good-jobs-nation-rally/.
9. Perkins, Olivera. “Justice for Janitors at 25: still fighting for more pay and respect (photos).” Cleveland.com, January 11, 2019. Accessed April 13, 2020. https://www.cleveland.com/business/2015/07/justice_for_janitors_at_25_sti_1.html#incart_river.
10. Firozi, Paulina. “The Energy 202: ‘There’s no reason for us to wait.’ Four more Dem governors join alliance to uphold Paris climate goals.” The Washington Post, February 12, 2019. Accessed April 13, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-energy-202/2019/02/12/the-energy-202-02122019-energy202/5c6191461b326b66eb09867b/.
11. Service Employees Local Union 1 (DOL File No. 023-715), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2019, Lines 20, 21, and 36.
12. “Officers.” SEIU Local 1. Accessed April 11, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/about/officers/.
13. Allmond, Leesa. “Tom Balanoff: SEIU Local 1 President.” SEIU Local 1, June 24, 2016. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2016/06/24/tom-balanoff-seiu-local-1-president/.
14. “SEIU Illinois State Council Endorses Progressive Candidate Marie Newman for Congress.” SEIU Local 1, December 3, 2019. Accessed April 13, 2020. http://www.seiu1.org/2019/12/03/seiu-illinois-state-council-endorses-progressive-candidate-marie-newman-congress/.
15. “Issues.” Marie Newman for Congress. Accessed April 13, 2020. https://www.marienewmanforcongress.com/issues/.
16. “Donors: Thomas Balanoff.” The Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed April 12, 2020. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=thomas+balanoff&type=donors.
17. Service Employees Local Union 1 (DOL File No. 023-715), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2019, Schedule 11.