SEIU -- Union organizing propaganda mars Olympic Games?

The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) appears to be one of the most corrupt unions in the nation. It’s President, Andy Stern, a frequent visitor to the Obama White House, is fond of quoting old communist slogans.

“Workers of the world unite”

"We like to say: We use the power of persuasion first. If it doesn't work, we try the persuasion of power."

So it comes as no surprise when the SEIU issues a press release which appears to negatively impact the spirit of the multi-national Olympic Games by questioning one of its food vendors.

Concerns of Food Safety at the Winter Olympics By Sasha Rogers With the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games upon us today, our eyes are not only pointed toward the many great international athletes that have descended on Vancouver, but also toward the food that they will be consuming over the next few weeks. In an effort to build awareness amongst the press and sports community alike, we are issuing a press release calling upon Sodexo to ensure food safety and increase its transparency about food safety issues entitled "Healthcare Union Raises Concerns Over Safety of Food to be Served to Olympic Athletes at Vancouver Olympics." Sodexo is providing catering services for athletes during this key moment in their sporting careers, and we're concerned about the food they will be providing. Over the years, questions have been asked upon Sodexo in regards to what suppliers they use and the process in which the food is "cooked". Sodexo uses two variations in their catering, "cook and chill" and "cooked and served on-site". For example, cook and chill means the food is cooked elsewhere and shipped frozen to kitchens to be reheated. Because of this method, health code violations at the "cook and chill" facility can mean problems with the end product. Sodexo has been under the microscope with 79 records of food safety noncompliance between December 2005 and September 2009, at a facility in Tennessee where it prepared meals that were provided to U.S. Marines. As stated in the press release, "Sodexo has a record of using food from suppliers--such as Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a meat processor and distributor that owns major beef-distributor Beef Packers, Inc.--who have been the subject of major national food recalls including two recalls in 2009 for more than 826,000 pounds of beef feared contaminated with salmonella Newport and the 2007 recall of one million pounds of ground beef thought to be contaminated with a toxic form of E. coli bacteria..." With this kind of history, it's hard not to wonder where Sodexo is obtaining its food from for the Olympic Games. These athletes train years for an opportunity to show their prowess in their sport, and definitely deserve to know what kinds of food they're ingesting each and everyday. We're calling on Sodexo to be transparent during these Olympic Games in Vancouver, and highlight who their primary suppliers are, what types of food they will be serving and the methods they will use to cook it.

Sowing FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt …

Since Sodexo and Cargill both have extensive relationships with various unions, one wonders if the motives of the SEIU have been designed to influence ongoing organizing or collective bargaining activities or merely to capitalize on the Olympics' international audience to raise awareness of SEIU activities? Either way, they are sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt in the general public and damaging a wonderful experience for those attending the games – either as a participant, supporter or spectator.

Bottom line …

Perhaps “we the people” should demand the same type of transparency and accountability regarding SEIU’s contracts and activities in association with government contracts. In fact, since some of the organization’s cited by the SEIU appear to regulated by union contracts, is the SEIU not accusing its own membership in maintaining unsanitary and dangerous conditions?

As my long-time readers may have noticed, I am not a fan of unions as I believe they raise costs without raising productivity, reward seniority over merit, replace innovation with mediocrity and are often complicit in the very activities that they so loudly condemn.

Because the SEIU is further infiltrating our government, institutions and infrastructure, I believe they need to be closely monitored lest they materially damage the United States as they pursue their political agenda of socialistic dominance.

Why Andy Stern is not being investigated for being a “unregistered lobbyist” with significant White House and government contact is perhaps an indictment of the Obama Administration which is the largest recipient of SEIU campaign funding and voter support. To my way of thinking, the SEIU and ACORN are linked in the promotion of an anti-competitive, anti-American philosophy akin to socialism, or worse, communism.

We need to closely monitor the Obama Administration’s contacts with this union and the activities of our government which seems to promote increasing unionism – to the detriment of the American public and to our national finances.

-- steve

Reference Links …

SEIU - Service Employees International Union - Concerns of Food Safety at the Winter Olympics

Sodexo’s relationship to unions|Sodexo

Cargill’s relationship to unions|Standard-Speaker

Comments

[rebia mixon clay]

I am a member of SEIU and it is you that sound like the communist. I left my job which paid me well and I work very hard taking care of my client who happens to be my brother. He has cerebral palsy and paranoia schezophrania. So for you to say' I believe they raise costs without raising productivity' is cruel. Maybe you should walk a day in my shoes and see if I and the other two million members do not earn they pay. you sound like a very mean spirited person.
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Rebia, I empathize with your situation. I had a similar situation where my sister and I took care of our mother (24/7) who had a significant heart problem. We did what we needed to do and did it out of love and respect for my mother. No one paid us to take care of her ... and believe me, I know what it is to physically handle a person with limited mobility and other complications.

The problem I have with the SEIU and the homeworkers does not have anything to do with productivity, dilligence and the good hearts of those who take care of others. It has to do with the massive fraud in the homecare program and the government's reluctance to ferret out cases of fraud. It has to do with collecting dues from someone who is probably behind the curve when it comes to finances.

My other problem with the SEIU has to do with government and other workers, in general, and ONLY in the case of fraud, with homeworkers.

I wish you the best of luck and want to remind you that there are community resources and friends who are willing to give you a brief respite to recharge your batteries. Take these opportunities as they come as you will continue to need your strength.

I am sorry that you are one of the few who does not deserve my anger at SEIU. My remarks are never directed towards hardworking union members, only their corrupt leadership. -- steve