SEIU & Swalwell reveal how California politics – Latest News
One of probably the most highly effective unions in California politics simply made its transfer within the governor’s race, and it tells you a lot about how the state’s political machine works.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of probably the most highly effective unions in California politics, endorsed Democrat Eric Swalwell for governor final week.
It’s an endorsement that tells you a lot about how the state’s political machine works.
For a candidate trying to construct momentum in a crowded Democratic area, the endorsement is a vital increase.
The SEIU is not only one other political group offering a well mannered nod of assist. It represents lots of of 1000’s of authorities and health-care staff, and pours huge sums into California elections each cycle.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of probably the most highly effective unions in California politics, endorsed Democrat Eric Swalwell for governor final week. AP
When the SEIU endorses a candidate, it brings money, volunteers, area operations, and credibility inside Democratic politics.
That makes the endorsement a clear win for Swalwell.
The timing is beneficial for his marketing campaign. Rival Tom Steyer has been raising questions on whether or not Swalwell resides in California. The concern has been investigated in reporting right here at The California Post.
Landing the backing of a main union like SEIU helps Swalwell change the dialog and signal power inside the Democratic coalition.
Organized labor has been break up within the governor’s race. Several unions have lined up behind totally different candidates. Steyer, for instance, has secured endorsements from the California Nurses Association and the California School Employees Association.
Swalwell had already picked up assist from the California Professional Firefighters earlier than the SEIU stepped in.
Different factions within the labor coalition are putting early bets on numerous candidates. But the SEIU endorsement carries explicit weight as a result of it wields huge political energy in California.
Unlike non-public sector unions, which operate within the constraints of market competitors, public worker unions like SEIU negotiate with the officers whose campaigns they finance.
In different phrases, the identical organizations that help elect politicians finish up sitting throughout the bargaining desk from these officers, negotiating taxpayer-funded contracts.
California gives maybe the clearest instance of this system in motion. Public worker unions acquire more than $1 billion in dues annually, a lot of which is funneled into political campaigns and ballot-measure fights.
According to Transparent California, average public worker compensation now could be six figures per yr.
When unions secure greater salaries and richer advantages, these prices don’t disappear. They show up as greater taxes, increasing authorities budgets, and large pension obligations that taxpayers might be compelled to cowl.
During Gavin Newsom’s recall combat in 202, the SEIU and there unions performed a vital position, pouring money and manpower into the marketing campaign to keep Newsom in workplace.
More not too long ago, SEIU contributed no less than $1 million to Newsom’s Yes on Proposition 50 committee to gerrymander California’s congressional districts.
The jail guards’ union supplied one other revealing instance. In 2021, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association negotiated a contract with Newsom that included a 2.5 % wage increase and $5,000 bonuses for 1000’s of jail guards.
About a month later, the union contributed $1.75 million to Newsom’s recall protection marketing campaign.
That’s how the system works.
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The SEIU has long been one of probably the most ideological unions within the state, pushing expansive authorities packages and wading into political fights far past conventional labor points.
Its president, David Huerta, was arrested final yr for interfering with a federal immigration enforcement motion in Los Angeles and now faces a felony charge.
Yet regardless of — or as a result of of — that ideological profile, unions like SEIU proceed to play a central position in figuring out the direction of California politics.
And with its endorsement of Swalwell, SEIU has chosen the Democratic candidate it believes needs to be the subsequent participant on this pay-for-play political association.
California’s system of public-sector bargaining grew over a long time, starting with the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act in 1968, and increasing by means of pension reforms resembling Senate Bill 400 in 1999.
Each step elevated the political energy of authorities unions.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, warned almost a century in the past that collective bargaining couldn’t be transplanted into authorities service as a result of public officers can not absolutely symbolize taxpayers when negotiating with organized staff.
California ignored that warning.
Today, the result’s a political system the place unions funded by taxpayers’ payrolls wield huge affect over elections and coverage choices.
Which brings us back to Swalwell. The SEIU’s endorsement offers him a highly effective ally in a close election.
The greatest shoe nonetheless ready to drop is whether or not the California Teachers Association, the state’s strongest public worker union, decides to enter the race and decide its own candidate, or joins SEIU in lining up behind Swalwell.
Either method, the sport is similar.
Jon Fleischman, a longtime strategist in California politics, writes at SoDoesItMatter.com.
