The Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago (WOCC) is a labor union that seeks to organize fast food workers and advocates for a $15 minimum wage as part of the “Fight for $15” movement.

Connections to SEUI HCII

For more information, see SEIU Healthcare Indiana and Illinois (Labor Union)

Former SEIU HCII president Keith Kelleher has stated he is an “informal adviser” and that the Service Employees Union International Healthcare Indiana and Illinois (SEIU HCII) has provided WOCC with financial assistance, training, and staff.¹ Records submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor show nearly $1.5 million in total payments from the SEIU local to WOCC, with almost half occurring in 2016.²

Sexual Harassment Accusations

Caleb Jennings, former president of WOCC, was accused of sexual harassment and abusive conduct by some of his coworkers and fired in October 2017. In a separate 2016 incident, 50 WOCC staffers signed a letter to SEIU leadership asking that Jennings be removed because of an allegation he had pushed a female staffer during a verbal confrontation – an accusation that led to an internal WOCC investigation that cleared Jennings of wrongdoing.  Jennings was paid more than $110,000 by the organization the year before his dismissal.

1. Cancino, Alejandra. “Executive profile: Keith Kelleher.” Chicago Tribune. December 2, 2013. Accessed November 15, 2018. https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2013-12-02-ct-biz-1202-executive-profile-keith-kelleher-20131202-story.html
2.      SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana FORM LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report: 2014.” Union Search; SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana FORM LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report: 2015.” Union Search; SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana FORM LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report: 2016.” Union Search; And “SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana FORM LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report: 2017.” Union Search. All accessed November 16, 2018. https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do