California Officials Reject NUHW 'Sour Grapes' Charges
Labor Desk
July 21, 2009
State reaffirms SEIU-UHW victory in Fresno County home care election.
FRESNO, Calif. - The State of California has re-affirmed the results of the June 19 victory of SEIU-UHW in the Fresno County home care election, rejecting all claims made by NUHW about the vote count, including its request for a re-count. The allegations were dismissed in a letter sent on July 14 from the Department of Industrial Relations to the legal firm representing NUHW. The Department also stated its intent to formally certify SEIU-UHW's victory to the Fresno County Public Authority.
In the most telling line of the letter, the State's legal counsel wrote that, "NUHW did not at the time claim that there was a problem with the vote count and has presented no facts to warrant a recount." The vote count was conducted by the State Mediation and Conciliation Service in full view of SEIU-UHW and NUHW observers, in a room full of supporters of both groups, and with their legal advisors on hand.
"Anyone who was in the room that day knew that the vote counting was run by professionals who knew what they were doing," said home care worker Greg Price, who attended the day-long event. "Once NUHW realized they had lost, their leaders starting hurling wild accusations and refused to cooperate."
Despite the public nature of the vote count, which proceeded without incident or objection by either party, NUHW made three claims against the public officials who had overseen it: "that certain challenged ballots were not counted; that ballots received after 5:00 p.m. on June 15 have not been counted; and that the Service has not conducted a recount."
The State rejected the three claims in short order, pointing out that the so-called "challenged" ballots - even if they all went for NUHW - would not have changed the result; that by agreement among all parties only votes received by June 15 would be counted; and that the Service counted the ballots twice in front of all the observers.
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. More at: www.seiu-uhw.org .
FRESNO, Calif. - The State of California has re-affirmed the results of the June 19 victory of SEIU-UHW in the Fresno County home care election, rejecting all claims made by NUHW about the vote count, including its request for a re-count. The allegations were dismissed in a letter sent on July 14 from the Department of Industrial Relations to the legal firm representing NUHW. The Department also stated its intent to formally certify SEIU-UHW's victory to the Fresno County Public Authority.
In the most telling line of the letter, the State's legal counsel wrote that, "NUHW did not at the time claim that there was a problem with the vote count and has presented no facts to warrant a recount." The vote count was conducted by the State Mediation and Conciliation Service in full view of SEIU-UHW and NUHW observers, in a room full of supporters of both groups, and with their legal advisors on hand.
"Anyone who was in the room that day knew that the vote counting was run by professionals who knew what they were doing," said home care worker Greg Price, who attended the day-long event. "Once NUHW realized they had lost, their leaders starting hurling wild accusations and refused to cooperate."
Despite the public nature of the vote count, which proceeded without incident or objection by either party, NUHW made three claims against the public officials who had overseen it: "that certain challenged ballots were not counted; that ballots received after 5:00 p.m. on June 15 have not been counted; and that the Service has not conducted a recount."
The State rejected the three claims in short order, pointing out that the so-called "challenged" ballots - even if they all went for NUHW - would not have changed the result; that by agreement among all parties only votes received by June 15 would be counted; and that the Service counted the ballots twice in front of all the observers.
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. More at: www.seiu-uhw.org .
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