The primary reason the officers are considering affiliating with SEIU is to strengthen our influence at the bargaining table, in Congress, with the Clinton Administration and within the AFL-CIO. A union with 1.1 million members, properly directed, is much more influential than one with 45,000 members. It’s just that simple.

The officers are evaluating whether SEIU is the right fit for us. No one wants to become an irrelevant part of a large union. Everyone wants to make certain that we greatly enhance our ability to get better contracts, better legislation, better regulatory control of our futures by affiliating with a large union. All want to make certain that we are still able to function with the same aggressiveness, the same philosophy, the same dedication and commitment that we function with today. All want to make certain that we retain our autonomy and that the affiliation works as a mechanism to make us more effective--better able to economically improve the lives of our members and their families.

The SEIU represents workers from every walk of life. Many independent unions have affiliated with the SEIU over the years. Although it is not a transportation union, it represents transportation workers. SEIU represents railroad workers who operate the Bay Area Rapid Transport System (BART) in California. The International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers, one of the traditional railroad brotherhoods, affiliated with SEIU a few years ago. The Firemen and Oilers speak highly of their affiliation, saying they have greatly improved their clout and lost no autonomy in the process. SEIU also represents highway construction workers in New England and some bus and truck drivers. Primarily, SEIU represents healthcare workers and public employees.

SEIU is led by some of the best people in the labor movement--people who are willing to take on management when it’s wrong or greedy and work with them when management is doing the right thing. The current President of the AFL-CIO, John Sweeney, is a former president of the SEIU. The SEIU has led the fight to organize the unorganized and has doubled in size since 1980, while most unions, including the BMWE, were suffering massive declines in membership. Its staff is also superb and can increase the BMWE’s ability to provide services in many areas, including but not limited to, research, education and safety, organizing, legislative and political.

SEIU understands that we must remain autonomous, that we must continue to represent railroad workers who construct and maintain the track, bridges and buildings, who repair track equipment and who construct and maintain the electric catenary system if this is to be a successful affiliation. They understand that we cannot lose our identity. And most importantly, they have the same philosophy that we have in terms of how to function as a union as we move into the 21st Century. They are a fighting union, but one that picks its fights and fights with intelligence.

The BMWE will also provide SEIU with a serious expansion into the rail sector and can provide them with increased clout and services as a result of our affiliating with them. The members of both organizations could benefit immensely by the affiliation.

Naturally, when considering such an affiliation, there are many issues to grapple with. The economics of such an affiliation are important. Autonomy is important. Ability to disaffiliate if things don’t work out properly is important. And most importantly, the BMWE must be certain that such an affiliation does enhance our clout and influence and that of the SEIU membership as well. That’s what the Grand Lodge and System Officers are considering now.

BMWE leadership is confident that the BMWE officers and members will make the right decision regarding affiliation with the SEIU. The process is an open and democratic one and members will have the knowledge to make an informed vote if the affiliation process moves to that stage.