An alleged representative from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was caught on video misinforming individual provider homecare aides that they have no choice in joining the union.
The Freedom Foundation, a free market think tank, obtained the footage from a spring training session in Aberdeen, Wash., featuring trainer Steven Williams of the SEIU telling his class of home healthcare workers that they should "want to be part of the SEIU."
"Under a federal law reaffirmed last year by the U.S. Supreme Court, the 34,000 individual provider homecare aides in Washington being paid with Medicaid funds can’t be considered full-fledged state employees. Consequently, they can’t be compelled to pay union dues and fees if they choose not to," Freedom Foundation said in a press release Wednesday.
Williams can be heard in the video advocating for the union, despite the disinterest vocalized by the class member asking questions.
"[I]f you work either directly through the state from Department of Social Health Services (DSHS) or if you work for an agency, yeah, you’re part of the union. But they [do] a lot of good," Williams said.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Harris v. Quinn last June that "partial-public employee" groups in Washington, including state-paid homecare aides, are not required to join a union nor are they forced to pay dues to the SEIU. Several states and unions ended automatic dues deductions following the decision.
The SEIU did not respond to request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon.