Although it represents healthcare workers, SEIU-UHW’s controversial leadership and brutal internal culture suggest it’s anything but a healthy workplace. 

Leadership

High-ranking officials at SEIU-UHW, including union President Dave Regan, have been accused of fostering a toxic work environment at the union. Several former employees have claimed to be the victim of harassment or a witness to inappropriate behavior. 

Dave Regan

Regan is the current president of SEIU-UHW.  He was accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit brought by SEIU employee Mindy Sturge. The lawsuit alleged that he not only engaged in sexual misconduct but that he also “tolerated a frat boy culture where sexual misconduct ran rampant.”

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Regan faced allegations that he would only promote women who engaged in sexual relationships with him.
In legal documents, Sturge said she was told if she wanted to get ahead at UHW, she should “hang out and drink with UHW President Dave Regan and the upper management around him.” She also detailed several instances where she believed Regan was making inappropriate sexual comments or gestures. 

SEIU allowed Regan to use union funds to defend himself. 

SEIU-UHW denied these charges and in 2020, the union settled the lawsuit.

Stan Lyles

Lyles, a top lieutenant of Dave Regan’s, was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple employees. One employee accused Lyles of sending her sexually explicit pictures and making sexually suggestive comments and gestures toward her. 

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Mindy Sturge, the employee who filed the lawsuit against SEIU-UHW, also said Lyles made several advances toward her. She also said she frequently heard Lyles make “inappropriate or offensive” comments about other female employees. She claimed, “all of Mr. Lyles’ conduct made me feel uncomfortable.”

Another employee accused Lyles of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault.

SEIU-UHW denied these allegations and the lawsuit accusing Lyles of harassment was settled. 

Chokri Bensaid

Bensaid is the head of SEIU-UHW Hospital Division. He has been accused of sexually harassing women under his command. In legal documents, SEIU-UHW employee Mindy Sturge said that she finally gave in to Bensaid’s advances and had a brief personal relationship with him.

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At the time, Bensaid, who had previously been investigated for sexual misconduct, was advised by SEIU not to have any personal relationships of any type with his subordinates.

Sturge claimed to break things off quickly with Bensaid, but claimed he continued to pursue her for months despite her many attempts to turn him away.

Bensaid was accused of sexual harassment in two more cases.

A long-time SEIU organizer Greg Price claimed that he heard Bensaid yell at a subordinate after she refused his sexual advances after a night of drinking at a union event. 

On another occasion, Marcus Hatcher, who left SEIU-UHW after being accused of sexual assault, said in an affidavit that he and Bensaid texted about what sexual acts that they would like to perform with SEIU-UHW Executive Board member Georgette Bradford. 

SEIU-UHW denied these allegations and the lawsuit accusing Bensaid of harassment was settled.

Alleged Retaliation Against Whistleblowers

Two of the former SEIU staffers who gave key testimony and evidence about sexual misconduct as part of the lawsuit against SEIU-UHW appear to have faced retaliation for speaking out. 

One of the witnesses, Njoki Woods, was fired after making her statements and was sued by SEIU-UHW for defamation. 

After filing a sexual misconduct lawsuit, Mindy Sturge claimed she received threatening calls and text messages. 

Sturge claimed that she tried to notify the international union about the sexual misconduct and that her complaints were ignored. She sent a letter in November of 2018 to SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and SEIU Vice President Leslie Frane, inviting them to come to California and see the widespread sexual misconduct and retaliation in SEIU-UHW. 

“The union’s mission is to provide a fair and dignified workplace for its members, a majority of whom are women. This should be the case for staff, too,” Sturge wrote to Mary Kay Henry. “But staff members are afraid to speak out, and prior complaints about some of the men who created this hostile environment have gone nowhere.”

In a letter sent back to Sturge from SEIU General Counsel Nicole Berner in November of 2018, the national union declined to meet with Sturge, saying that the matter was best left to be investigated by the SEIU-UHW – the very union whose President she was suing for sexual misconduct.

Reviews

Current and former employees of SEIU-UHW have written dozens of reviews criticizing the union for having a brutal work environment. Read them for yourself. Featured reviews were lightly edited for clarity.

Upper management is awful. They are incompetent, completely disorganized, rude, secretive, childish, paranoid about losing their power, and incapable of changing in any way.
Since joining UHW, I had to start therapy – this place took a toll on my mental and physical health.
The culture is cancer. You’ll want to leave and work for the other side, this local and its leadership need to take a hard look in the mirror.
Lack of accountability – The union is anti-union.
This union is very anti-union! They do not respect their workers, they look down on you if you ever mention family or friends, you’re expected to be working all the time, including on the weekends, I was lied to regarding my job description when I was hired.
Literally everything about this organization is horrible, the directors and coordinators, the strategic plan, the culture and vision.
The very top level management don’t care about their workers at all.

Notable SEIU-UHW spending

Spending data was collected from available Service Employees International Union LM filings with the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), and then categorized in one of seven buckets detailed below:

$$5,134,974

Advocacy

$$7,946,600

Hotels and Events

$$2,373,374

Lawyers

$$623,305

Merchandise

$$15,716,749

Public Relations

$$1,768,051

Restaurants

$$2,041,710

Travel

Search SEIU-UHW Spending

All categorized spending is listed below. You can search for specific line items, or sort by highest to lowest spending. The descriptions for each line item are the union’s, not ours. For a full accounting of how the union is spending members’ dues money, you can find individual financial filings with the federal government here

Vendor Description Amount
Kimball Petition Management Political Activities 8196886
Winning Mark, LLC Representational Activities 2936998
The Fairness Project Contributions, Gifts And Grants 2750000
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies LLC Representational Activities 1242055
Southwest Airlines Representational Activities 1227421
Homewood Suites San Diego Circle/seaworld Area Representational Activities 1116020
Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld Representational Activities 1022607
Panera Bread – Corp Representational Activities 861312
Feinberg, Jackson, Worthman & Wasow Llp Representational Activities 764656
Hyatt Regency Lax Union Administration 628881
Arizonans Fed Up With Failing Healthcare Political Activities 600000
Targeted Platform Media (tpm) LLC Representational Activities 588400
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Representational Activities 572409
Oakland Marriott City Center Representational Activities 571732
617 Media Group Representational Activities 532930
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Representational Activities 515963
Breakthrough Campaigns Representational Activities 457621
Breakthrough Campaigns Political Activities 448843
California Democratic Party Political Activities 428610
N. G. Slater Corp Representational Activities 392596
Kaufman Legal Group Political Activities 371759
Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suite Los Angeles Representational Activities 297614
Marriott Burbank Airport Representational Activities 267714
Noah’S Bagels Representational Activities 264230
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies LLC Representational Activities 250332
Yes On Prop 1 – Gov. Newsom’S Bmc Political Activities 250000
Sadler Strategic Media, Inc. Representational Activities 249509
Enterprise Rent-a-car Representational Activities 190402
Metro Media Productions, Inc Representational Activities 179067
Kona Kai Resort Representational Activities 173160
Courtyard Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo Representational Activities 172436
El Pollo Loco – Wks Restaurant Group Representational Activities 171094
Click Strategies Political Activities 165897
Pacific Printing (sj) Representational Activities 165394
Hilton Sacramento Arden West Representational Activities 160502
Promo Shop, Inc. Representational Activities 156533
San Diego County Democratic Party Political Activities 150000
Metro Media Productions, Inc Union Administration 149757
Vip Luxury Restrooms Representational Activities 146260
Doubletree Sacramento Representational Activities 145459
Residence Inn By Marriott San Diego Downtown Representational Activities 138372
Hyatt Regency Sf Representational Activities 130077
Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles Representational Activities 128801
Mosaic Global Transportation – San Jose Representational Activities 125734
Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento Airport Natomas Representational Activities 123036
Hyatt Regency Lax Representational Activities 122035
Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown Arena Representational Activities 121459
Barton Mendez Soto Pllc Political Activities 109409
Hampton Inn – Sandiego/ Mission Valley Representational Activities 108481
Southwest Airlines Political Activities 103803
Ez Cater, Inc Representational Activities 101291
Southwest Airlines Union Administration 99995
Hilton Hotels-costa Mesa Representational Activities 97619
Sheraton Gateway-la, Ca Representational Activities 97554
Promo Shop, Inc. General Overhead 88745
Cornerstone Printing Inc Representational Activities 88671
Media Analysis, Inc. Representational Activities 80540
Hyatt House Emeryville/ San Francisco Bay Representational Activities 75850
Fairmont Hotel Sf Representational Activities 75104
Benenson Strategy Group, LLC Political Activities 70731
Embassy Suites Phoenix Downtown North Representational Activities 69573
Doubletree Mission Valley Representational Activities 68378
Best Food Trucks, Inc. Representational Activities 64844
Sonesta Es Suites Tempe Representational Activities 61722
La Bonita Taqueria Representational Activities 61463
Slick Innovations LLC Representational Activities 58890
Hyatt Regency Monterey General Overhead 58472
Doubletree Hotel La/commerce Representational Activities 57119
Hyatt House Sacramento Midtown Representational Activities 55994
Enterprise Rent-a-car Representational Activities 55135
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies LLC Political Activities 53282
Homewood Suites By Hilton San Diego Mission Valley Representational Activities 52220
Embassy Suites By Hilton Napa Valley Representational Activities 50809
Wendy Carrillo For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 50000
Oakland Marriott City Center Union Administration 48184
Hilton Sacramento Arden West Union Administration 48028
Coalition Of Kaiser Permanente Representational Activities 46826
Radar Strategies, LLC Political Activities 45000
Einstein Bros. Bagels Representational Activities 44984
Four Points By Sheraton San Jose Airport Representational Activities 42326
Promo Shop, Inc. Union Administration 41843
Homewood Suites By Hilton San Diego Downtown Representational Activities 40200
Doubletree By Hilton Modesto Representational Activities 38388
Sandor’S Gourmet Catering, Inc Representational Activities 37465
Rob Bonta For Ca Attorney General 2026 Political Activities 36400
The Kinney/wayfarer San Luis Obispo Representational Activities 34625
Howard Advocacy, Inc Political Activities 33000
Homewood Suites Oxnard Representational Activities 32976
El Pollo Loco – Tws Restaurant Corp Representational Activities 32823
International Rescue Committee, Inc Representational Activities 30380
Douglas Parking, LLC General Overhead 30079
Hampton Inn Riverside Downtown Representational Activities 29729
Monrad Strategies Representational Activities 28250
United Airlines Representational Activities 28119
Marriott San Diego Mission Valley Representational Activities 26193
Instacart.com Representational Activities 26133
Residence Inn By Marriott San Diego La Jolla Representational Activities 26011
Towneplace Suites By Marriott San Diego Downtown Representational Activities 25852
Executive Inn & Suites Embarcadero Cove- Oak Representational Activities 25797
Parc 55 Wyndam Sf- Hilton Representational Activities 25099
Rick Rivera Dba J&r Graphics And Printing Representational Activities 25060
Friends Of Brandon Johnson — Chicago Political Activities 25000
Seiu Texas Pac Political Activities 25000
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Oakland Union Administration 24530
Nancy Hutt, Atty Representational Activities 23675
Robert M Hirsch Representational Activities 23673
Residence Inn By Marriott Los Angeles-pasadena Representational Activities 23467
Hyatt Place Lax/ Century Boulevard Union Administration 22430
Mark Gonzalez For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 21800
Rusty Hicks For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 21800
Progressive Contact Tech, Inc Political Activities 21780
Marriott San Diego Mission Valley Representational Activities 20787
Doubletree Hotel La/commerce Union Administration 20523
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel Representational Activities 20202
Black Women’S Forum, Inc. Contributions, Gifts And Grants 20000
Ca Legislative Black Caucus Contributions, Gifts And Grants 20000
Los Angeles County Democratic Party Political Activities 20000
Maria Elena Durazo Bmc Political Activities 20000
Staybridge Suites Anaheim At Park Representational Activities 19883
Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown Arena Political Activities 19839
Residence Inn Riverside Moreno Valley Representational Activities 19813
Jw Marriott Los Angeles La Live Political Activities 19594
Pacific Printing (sj) Union Administration 19244
Southwest Airlines General Overhead 19001
Budget Rent A Car System, Inc Representational Activities 18960
Facebook Representational Activities 18278
Hilton Oaklanbd Airport Representational Activities 18119
Taco & Company LLC Representational Activities 17983
Elijahs Restaurant Representational Activities 17392
Avis Rent A Car System Inc Representational Activities 16407
Marina Del Rey Hotel Representational Activities 15466
Charterup LLC Representational Activities 15292
Embassy Suites Walnut Creek Representational Activities 15129
Api Leadership Pac Political Activities 15000
Close The Gap Ca Contributions, Gifts And Grants 15000
Lgbt Caucus Leadership Fund Political Activities 15000
Our Culver Political Activities 15000
Crowne Plaza- Phoenix Airport Representational Activities 14908
Residence Inn By Marriott Sd Downtown/gaslamp Representational Activities 14621
Hilton Oaklanbd Airport Union Administration 14421
American Airlines Representational Activities 14309
Norcal Chicken Inc Representational Activities 14199
Cornerstone Displays LLC Representational Activities 13421
Hyatt House San Ramon Representational Activities 13402
Skillful Communications, Inc Representational Activities 13153
Alliance Graphics, Inc. Representational Activities 12914
Clue – La Contributions, Gifts And Grants 12500
Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/mission Valley Stadium Representational Activities 12409
Homewood Suites By Hilton- Lax Representational Activities 12271
Home2 Suites By Hilton Hayward Representational Activities 12127
Delta Airlines Representational Activities 11933
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Loma Linda-sanb Representational Activities 11847
Candlewood Suites Ontario Representational Activities 11831
Uber 866-576-1039 Representational Activities 11669
Us Bus Charter & Limo/ Us Coachways Inc. Union Administration 11586
Staybridge Suites San Bernadino Representational Activities 11384
Omni Los Angeles Hotel Representational Activities 11346
Christy Holstege For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Clarissa Cervantes For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Friends Of Solache For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Kathryn Lybarger For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Kipp Mueller For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Lena Gonzalez For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Lisa Middleton For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Liz Ortega For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Mia Bonta For Assembly Political Activities 10900
Paula Villescaz For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Pilar Schiavo For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Alex Lee For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Chambers For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Rhodesia Ransom For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Rick Chavez Zbur For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Riddle For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Robert Torres For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Rocha For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Sabrina Cervantes For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Sabrina Cervantes For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Sade Elhaway For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Sasha Renee Perez For Senate 2024 Political Activities 10900
Steve Bennett For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 10900
Fairfield Inn Marriott Sac Representational Activities 10836
Homewood Suites-fresno Representational Activities 10746
City Of Oakland Parking Partners General Overhead 10648
Alaska Airlines Representational Activities 10608
Spotlight Design & Printing General Overhead 10596
Raspado Xpress Representational Activities 10536
Aaa Rents & Events Inc Representational Activities 10448
Jacobson & Zilber Strategies LLC Political Activities 10316
Arizona Democratic Party Political Activities 10000
Close The Gap Ca Political Activities 10000
Doubletree Hotel Representational Activities 9781
Hilton Oaklanbd Airport General Overhead 9599
Elife Limo/ Elife Tech Inc. Representational Activities 9568
Dante’S Cafe Representational Activities 9533
Housing And Economic Rights Advocates Representational Activities 9500
Ventura Beach Marriott Representational Activities 9480
Residence Inn #878 (la Mirada) Representational Activities 9231
Residence Inn San Jose Airport Representational Activities 9087
Hilton Garden Inn-garden Grove Representational Activities 9026
Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Ctr Representational Activities 8996
Alliance Graphics, Inc. General Overhead 8866
Mark Hopkins Hotel Representational Activities 8770
Hilton Hotel San Diego Airport Representational Activities 8356
Sara Adler, Esq Representational Activities 8250
Candlewood Suites Anaheim- Resort Area Representational Activities 8227
Courtyard Marriott – Oak Dwntn Representational Activities 8169
Oxford Suites Sonoma County- Rohnert Park Representational Activities 7988
Sf Osha Thai Bbq LLC Representational Activities 7928
Tws Restaurant Group Representational Activities 7880
Doubletree Monrovia Representational Activities 7871
Homewood Suites By Hilton San Jose-silicon Valley Representational Activities 7806
Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento Political Activities 7764
New/mode Consulting, Inc. Political Activities 7623
New River Strategies LLC Political Activities 7500
Southwest Airlines Contributions, Gifts And Grants 7444
The Kinney/wayfarer San Luis Obispo General Overhead 7384
Clay Creations Studio General Overhead 7375
Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge Representational Activities 7306
Brothers Mexican Restaurant Representational Activities 7300
Homewood Suites San Bernardino Representational Activities 7196
Best Western Bayside Oakland Representational Activities 7129
Marriott Riverside At Convention Center Representational Activities 7071
Homewood Suites By Hilton- Balmont Representational Activities 7056
Beacon Consulting Group General Overhead 6938
Chevron Gas Card Representational Activities 6686
Hilton Concord Representational Activities 6621
Hyatt House San Ramon Political Activities 6621
Doubletree Hotel La/commerce General Overhead 6610
Matsuda House Of Printing, Inc. Political Activities 6458
Roxanne Pangilinan Sugar Mama Cookies Representational Activities 6352
Hyatt Place San Jose Airport Representational Activities 6335
Hilton Garden Inn Montebello Representational Activities 6328
Holiday Inn Express & Suites- Indio Representational Activities 6238
Damaris Express, Inc Representational Activities 6125
Hilton Santa Cruz/scotts Valley Representational Activities 6059
The Event Experience LLC Representational Activities 6052
Hilton Garden Inn Emeryville/sfo/oak Bay Bridge Representational Activities 5920
Hyatt House Lax Centry Blvd Union Administration 5803
Holiday Inn Orange County Airport Representational Activities 5794
Feinberg, Jackson, Worthman & Wasow Llp Political Activities 5685
Enterprise Rent-a-car Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5666
Hyatt Regency- Miami Representational Activities 5656
Robert Bergeson Representational Activities 5635
Jackie Elward For State Senate 2024 Political Activities 5500
Marisol Rubio For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
Monica Wilson For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
Porsche Middleton For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
Shaw For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
Soria For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
Tina Mckinnor For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5500
California Secretary Of State Political Activities 5480
Hyatt House Davis Representational Activities 5478
Image Pointe Union Administration 5439
Hotel Amarano Burbank General Overhead 5310
Doubletree By Hilton Pleasanton At Club Representational Activities 5259
Hampton Inn & Suites La/sherman Oaks Representational Activities 5215
Smf Airport Shuttle LLC.-sunrise Shuttle Political Activities 5120
Najeeb Khoury Representational Activities 5025
Clinica Monsenor Oscar A Romero Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5000
Community Coalition Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5000
Contra Costa Labor To Labor Political Activities 5000
Miguel Contreras Foundation Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5000
Schultz For Assembly 2024 Political Activities 5000
The Mayor’S Fund For Los Angeles File 2345 Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5000
Working Partnerships-usa Contributions, Gifts And Grants 5000
Ezcater Representational Activities 3309
Homewood Suites Garden Grove Representational Activities 2929
Holidy Inn Express & Suites Chatsworth Representational Activities 2268