Can you imagine a union has its members work 24-hour workdays?
On August 12, 2020, dozens of home attendants—most of whom were current or former members of 1199SEIU—held a press conference in front of 1199SEIU’s office to demand that the union stop its collusion with home care agencies and insurance companies to maintain the racist, sexist, and unjust 24-hour workday. They were joined by other workers and supporters of the Ain't I a Woman?! Campaign.
For years, workers have asked 1199SEIU President George Gresham to stand with them against the abusive practice of a 24-hour workday, especially as they are paid for only 13 of those hours. No response. In the face of mounting pressure, the union president finally released a statement at the press conference last week: “We wholeheartedly believe that all workers deserve to be fairly compensated for the hours they work. We also understand that in order for 24-hour workers to be compensated as they should, the State of New York must allocate roughly one billion dollars in Medicaid funding.” To summarize: There's nothing wrong with 24-hour shifts. Workers should be paid, but there’s no money. Our hands are tied.
Why is the union turning its back on its members? Is it because they are women of color and immigrants? Is it because these women are caring for vulnerable, low-income, elderly, ill and disabled individuals who need around-the-clock care?
Why, a century and a half since the U.S. labor movement fought for the 8-hour day, is 1199--widely considered the most powerful and "progressive" union in this country--dragging us backwards to a 24-hour workday? This is heartbreaking. Not only is the union's practice undermining the rights and lives of its membership, but it is an assault on the labor movement as a whole. 1199 is setting a dangerous and harmful precedent by on the one hand claiming to speak for workers, and on the other, saying it’s okay for your employer to make you work every single hour of your day, and that it’s okay to not get paid for all the hours. How will other unions see this? Will train conductors, teachers, nurses be expected now to work longer hours? By normalizing the super-exploitation of home care workers with a 24-hour day, 1199 is sending the message that workers should work dangerously long hours, even if they join or organize unions.
Home care workers are rising up and rallying to end the 24-hour workday. Those who care about 1199, about their own union, and about the future of the labor movement, whether you are in New York, other parts of the US or around the world, don’t let this shameful and destructive pace setting from the 1199SEIU leadership hurt all of us. Write or call 1199SEIU President George Gresham, and tell him to end the 24-hour work shifts and replace it with split shifts.