Union Caregivers Play Major Role in Re-electing Governor O’Malley, Forecasting How 1199 Will Shape Future Political Races

SEIU's President Mary Kay Henry canvasses in Maryland with Sinai Hospital Worker and Member Political Organizer Byron Beckford

BALTIMORE, MD – Local caregivers worked closely with their union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, to play a major role in yesterday’s re-election of Governor Martin O’Malley. The massive effort was indicative of how the union will shape future political races as one of the foremost voices for working families and quality healthcare in the region.

Lenae Jones, a patient support associate at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is exemplary of the political commitment and energy of 1199SEIU members. Ms. Jones rose at 4:30 a.m. on Monday to meet Governor O’Malley for shift change at her hospital.  She introduced hundreds of her co-workers to the Governor and together they reminded them to vote on Election Day.  Jones is one of twenty-five Member Political Organizers (MPOs) who took a leave of absence from their jobs to work full-time for 1199SEIU during campaign season. MPOs educate union members and the public about issues and candidates, and mobilize them to get involved and vote.

MPOs initially focused on the primary and successfully defeated four incumbent state senators who did not support issues important to working people, such as keep Prince Georges Hospital open and viable.

“We are showing what working people can accomplish when we speak with a united voice,” said John Reid, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU. “We got anti-worker state senators thrown out and we re-elected a pro-worker governor. We will continue to put massive time, energy and resources into advancing the interests of working families in Maryland. Our thousands of highly motivated members are our secret weapon. They see political activism as an essential part of their advocacy for their patients, communities and families.”

At 1199SEIU’s endorsement rally for the Governor a month ago, O’Malley stood with healthcare workers who want to form a union and promised to make sure they have access to fair union elections without coercion from employers.  Right now, thousands of hospital and nursing home workers are organizing in the Heart of Baltimore campaign, an effort to win better care and jobs.  Because 1 in 5 Baltimore jobs is in healthcare, raising standards for caregivers will expand the middle class and boost the economic health of the city overall.

1199SEIU MPOs recruited member volunteers who knocked on 30,481 doors to talk to and educate voters. In addition to mailings to union members, 1199SEIU sent out over one million pieces of mail to voters outside the union (called an “independent expenditure”) and provided substantial support to groups engaged in increasing voter participation. 1199SEIU also produced multiple radio ads on behalf of Governor O’Malley, including a large campaign on African-American stations about jobs, education and healthcare. 1199’s effort was in coordination with their umbrella organization, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents 32,000 total members in the state, and sister locals including SEIU Local 32BJ.