1 Union 1 Future
Proven Leadership • Strategic Vision • Member Powered!
With major threats to healthcare jobs on the horizon, we must stay true to being a member-led Union and elect battle-tested leaders with the experience, record and political clout to protect our wages, benefits and future!
Members Expect Results, Not Just Promises
George and Milly are two of the most respected and effective labor leaders in the entire nation. Under their leadership, most 1199 members in every state have contracts with wage increases that we haven’t seen in decades. George is ranked as the #1 most influential labor leader and has delivered victories for members, time and again. He was the chief negotiator for our Union’s current NY League contract covering 70,000 members, which resulted in members winning 7%, 6%, and 5% annual raises—the highest seen since the 1980s. Milly’s extensive record includes winning a best-in-the nation staffing ratio law in New Jersey and negotiating the best nursing home contracts in the country.
Why 1199ers are Voting for 1 Union 1 Future
Every three years, the members of 1199 vote to elect our Union leadership team. This year, President George Gresham and Secretary-Treasurer Milly Silva are running for re-election as part of the 1 Union 1 Future slate. This team includes rank-and-file members, Delegates, current officers and staff—a strong, diverse, and experienced group of leaders ready to take on the challenges ahead!
Today, 1199SEIU is at the height of our success in winning strong contracts and building political power for healthcare workers. With so many challenges ahead of us, we must stay the course with veteran leaders we trust and continue growing healthcare worker power across every state and every region!
Experienced Leadership is Critical for Challenging Times
There is no doubt that 1199—and our nation—are entering challenging and unpredictable times. Threats to healthcare funding and healthcare jobs loom on the horizon.
Now more than ever, we need proven leaders who have the experience to move a winning program in our workplaces and in politics. George and Milly bring this to the table like no one else. Not only have they spearheaded amazing contract and legislative victories, they have built extensive relationships with national political leaders, key employers and organizations, faith leaders and social justice movements. This is vital to moving a successful state and national program to advance our mission of winning quality care and good jobs for all. The opposition slate has zero experience heading a union and zero clout with important elected officials and allies, which puts members' wages, benefits and jobs at risk. There is no time for a warm-up—we need veteran leaders who are able to lead on day one.
At 1199, change should be decided from the bottom-up, not the top-down.
Whenever change has come to 1199, it has always been driven by the rank-and-file. We believe that leadership decisions should be focused strictly on doing what is best for members, not by personal ambitions or whose “turn” it is to be President. Members never asked for a change in top Union leadership, but a group of officers and staff are trying to split the Union by running their own slate against President Gresham. It is irresponsible and dangerous to sow division in 1199 at precisely the time we need to stay together. Our slate is about preserving rank-and-file power and member-focused leadership—we can’t go backwards!
We lead with honesty and integrity—not for personal ambition.
We know that in an election as crucial as this one, some people are resorting to spreading falsehoods about George and others. But we also know that 1199 members won’t be duped by crazy lies from anonymous sources. And we totally reject the discriminatory attacks against President Gresham. Yes, he has physical challenges. But as healthcare workers, we know better than to judge someone by a physical characteristic! George is a proven fighter with a tremendous work ethic and an undefeated record. His current term as President has been the most successful yet, and we need to stay the course.
