Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 221 is an affiliate of the controversial SEIU labor union representing employees in San Diego and Imperial Counties, California. SEIU Local 221 claims to represent Head Start employees, school employees, and court reporters, along with other county government employees. ¹

SEIU Local 221 actively pushes for left-of-center economic policy, including minimum wage hikes, increased regulation of labor, and government control of health care² through the Fight for $15 pressure campaign and lobbying for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

SEIU Local 221 actively endorses Democratic candidates for local, state, and federal offices, ³ and even cut ties with the San Diego Working Families Council labor coalition over an endorsement dispute, as Local 221 seeks more allies in office, to help further its left-of-center agenda. ⁴

Political Activity

SEIU Local 221 actively pushes for left-of-center economic policy, including minimum wage hikes, increased regulation of labor, and greater government control of health care. ⁵ As a leading advocate for a hike in minimum wage, SEIU Local 221 led efforts statewide pushing for an increase, and created the Raise the Wage San Diego coalition. ⁶ Prior to this, SEIU Local 221 rallied support for the Raise California’s Wage and Paid Sick Days Act of 2016 by organizing multiple signature collecting campaigns. ⁷ SEIU Local 221 continues to support the Fight for $15 pressure campaign heavily organized by its national parent, and has participated in strikes with fast food workers in San Diego. ⁸

SEIU Local 221 advocates for increased government control of health care and has supported of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). ⁹

SEIU Local 221 actively endorses Democratic candidates for local, state, and federal offices. SEIU 221 also provides guidance on how to vote on ballot initiatives to its members. ¹⁰

In 2018, SEIU Local 221 cut ties with the San Diego Working Families Council labor coalition when the two groups disagreed about an endorsement for county supervisor. SEIU Local 221 endorsed former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (I), as Fletcher would serve as an ally to them, while the Working Families Council backed former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana (D), creating an irreconcilable conflict of interest. ¹¹

SEIU Local 221 remains a member of the Invest in San Diego Families coalition, and works with left-of-center organizations like ACCE Action, the ACLU, and Center on Policy Initiatives, along with local pro-labor union organizations like Partners for Progress San Diego, and the San Diego Organizing Project. ¹²

Funding

According to its 2019 filing with the Department of Labor, SEIU Local 211 collected monthly payments, up to $703.08 annually, from its 6,721 members, totaling $4,173,292 in dues revenue. ¹³ In a 2018 board meeting, treasurer of the board Iris Trammel is recorded as saying “when asked how much do you pay in union dues we can respond that dues are like insurance and we don’t even think about it.” ¹⁴

Controversy

SEIU Local 221 has allegedly taken advantage of its members and other workers required to accept Local 221 as a monopoly bargaining representative. San Diego County employee Charles Hill submitted the form provided by SEIU Local 221 to opt out of union membership and stop his dues payments in 2019; SEIU Local 221 refused the request, and continued taking dues from his paycheck, until Hill enlisted an attorney to stand up for his rights, after which the case was settled. ¹⁵

Board of Directors

SEIU Local 211 is led by an executive board, which consists of eighteen elected members.

Board President David Garcias also sits on the International Executive Board of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and formerly was treasurer of the board of SEIU Local 211. ¹⁶

The other three officers are Michael Dobbins, vice president; Nico Portillo, secretary; and Iris Trammel, treasurer. Additional members of the board include Alma Aguirre, Belvia Gipson, Crystal Irving, Denise Learned, Drucilla Willis, Elena Long, Frank Rivera, Jennifer Esquivel, Jesus Gonzalez, Linda Correa, Nancy Woodford, Tracey Carter, and Vanessa Garcia. ¹⁷

1. “We Are Local 221.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/aboutus/.
2. “We Are Local 221.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/aboutus/.
3. “Endorsements.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/category/endorsements/.
4. Stewart, Joshua. “County employees’ union quits labor council after endorsement rift.” The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 21, 2018. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-seiu-quits-20180321-story.html.
5. “We Are Local 221.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/aboutus/.
6. “Two wage increases starting in January.” SEIU Local 221, December 4, 2018. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/2018/12/04/two-wage-increases-starting-in-january/.
7. “Minimum-wage campaign kick-off on Jan. 30.” SEIU Local 221, January 6, 2016. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/2016/01/26/state-minimum-wage-campaign-kick-off-on-jan-30/.
8. “We Support Fast Food Workers in their Fight for $15.” SEIU Local 221, September 5, 2014. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/2014/09/05/we-support-fast-food-workers-in-their-fight-for-15/.
9. “Local 221 President Eric Banks Speaks Out in Celebration of Affordable Care.” SEIU Local 221, August 23, 2012. Accessed April 12, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/2012/08/23/local-221-president-eric-banks-speaks-out-in-favor-of-affordable-care/.
10. “Endorsements.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/category/endorsements/.
11. Stewart, Joshua. “County employees’ union quits labor council after endorsement rift.” The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 21, 2018. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-seiu-quits-20180321-story.html.
12. “221 Partners.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/221-partners/.
13. Service Employees Local Union 211 (DOL File No. 543-598), Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2), 2018, Lines 20, 21, and 36.
14. “SEIU Local 221 Executive Board Regular Meeting – Minutes.” SEIU Local 221, February 13, 2018. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/files/2018/03/2-13-18-Minutes.pdf.
15. Cooksey, Hannah. “SEIU 221 Settles Case When Freedom Foundation Shows Up.” Freedom Foundation, September 11, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://www.freedomfoundation.com/labor/seiu-221-settles-case-when-freedom-foundation-shows-up/.
16. “David Garcias. LinkedIn, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-garcias-72713314/.
17. “Executive Board.” SEIU Local 221. Accessed April 10, 2020. http://www.seiu221.org/executive-board-2/.