Healthcare Workers Sue SEIU for Infringing on Free Speech Rights

Suit filed Tuesday in federal court in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five healthcare
workers and members of United Healthcare Workers-West have sued their
Washington-based parent organization, Service Employees International Union,
alleging violations of their federal rights to speak freely and to participate
in union activities.

The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, alleges SEIU President Andy
Stern and other SEIU officials violated the Labor-Management Reporting and
Disclosure Act, which expressly gives "every member of any labor organization"
the "right to meet and assemble freely with other members; and to express any
views, arguments, or opinions."

SEIU officials repeatedly have asked for the removal of a Web site,
http://www.seiuvoice.org, a popular forum for nursing home, hospital and
homecare workers to share information about their union and its members with
each other and the public.

The suit alleges this and other conduct by SEIU officials is designed to
"limit, inhibit and chill the exercise of their rights of free speech and
equal participation as active members and advocates for democratic policies
within their union."

"I have been a supporter of this union for more than 30 years. This is the
first time in all those years that I've felt threatened or intimidated because
of my union activities," said Rosie Byers, a plaintiff in the suit and a San
Francisco-based home healthcare provider. "I can't believe SEIU is trying to
take away my voice, to silence me. This simply must stop."

The suit alleges SEIU officials have coordinated these attacks against UHW
members as part of a larger effort to silence any dissention at their June
2008 convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"During the time I've been involved with this union, I've never been afraid to
speak my mind," said plaintiff Michael Torres, a respiratory therapist at USC
University Hospital in Los Angeles. "It's utterly ridiculous that we're now
forced to sue to ensure that we have a say in the future direction of UHW."

The 150,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the largest and
fastest-growing hospital and healthcare union in the western United States and
represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional,
technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high-quality
healthcare for all.

CONTACT:Kim Curtis
Cell: 510-206-8248
Email: kcurtis@seiu-uhw.org

SOURCE SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

Kim Curtis of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, +1-510-206-8248,
kcurtis@seiu-uhw.org