At National Action Network this morning, from left to right:

New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio's Director of Community Affairs, Kirsten Foy [title fixed]; Independent Party strategist Jackie Salit; 1199 SEIU President George Gresham; former Tennessee congressman and semi-Senate candidate in New York, Harold Ford Jr.; AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders; and the city corrections officers union president, Norman Seabrook.

"It is with great pride and excitement that we endorse two outstanding leaders who are great friends of our union and staunch advocates for working families," the union's president, George Gresham, said in a public statement. "1199 members are proud to stand with Bill and John and we look forward to doing everything in our power to get them both elected."

1199 SEIU is one of the major partners of the Working Families Party, a labor-backed organization which has already endorsed both de Blasio and Liu (after some donations to the party were made).

During the Working Families Party vote for mayor, 1199 SEIU voted to back Bill Thompson over Michael Bloomberg.

"It was more a general opportunity to put on the table people's frustrations and feelings that they're, in a sense, taken for granted. I have to say I was somewhat surprised by some of the points that were made," Assemblyman Joe Morelle, who is also the Monroe County Democratic chairman, said after the three-hour meeting.

Assemblymen Carl Heastie and Vito Lopez, the chairs of the Bronx and Brooklyn Democratic parties, attended as well as Julian Schreibman of Ulster County, Diane Dwire of Onondaga County and Jay Jacobs, the incoming state chairman who currently runs the Nassau County party.

Union leaders present include Michael Mulgrew of the United Federation of Teachers; Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; George Gresham of SEIU 1199; Mike Fishman of SEIU 32BJ and Gary La Barbera Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.

According to one person in the room, the 2010 ticket was discussed, and union leaders "expressed concern about the polling numbers for everyone--except Cuomo."

The group agreed to meet again.

The major bump up for Rivera comes right when Eliot Spitzer is about to (what's Hillary's phrase for this kind of thing?) drop the hammer on health care spending in New York, and, presumably, look for more federal aid to offset some of the costs. That's where Rivera, now an official national union leader, may have an impact.

In other words, they'll be speaking to each other in slightly different negotiating positions.

Official statement after the jump.

-- Azi Paybarah

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Politics & Legislation Department

For Immediate Release:
January 29, 2007

HEALTHCARE UNION LEADER DENNIS RIVERA ACCEPTS NEW POST
NY Champion of Workers and Quality Healthcare to Leave 1199SEIU to Chair New National Health Union

Will Lead National Effort For Quality Healthcare For All, and To Unite 10 Million U.S. Healthcare Workers

(New York, NY) -- Dennis Rivera, the creative leader of the nation's largest local union of healthcare workers, the New York-based 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, will leave that post this spring, following the Union's campaign to defend against the annual attempt to cut health services for New Yorkers in Albany, to become chair of SEIU Healthcare, a new national Union of nearly one million healthcare workers inside the Service Employees International Union, of which 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East will be the largest component. The Union will conduct its triennial election of Union officers in April, and Rivera will not be on the ballot for the first time since 1986.

Under Rivera's leadership, the Union has forged a partnership with management leaders of New York's hospitals, nursing homes and homecare agencies, that have successfully worked with both parties in New York's legislature to protect healthcare delivery in the state.

Rivera's move to the new national Union comes with the blessing and full support of the 1199SEIU leadership because of the importance of fixing the nation's broken health care system for patients and workers. The change is expected to be a smooth one. Rivera has been a leading force in SEIU's Healthcare Division for many years and has been a national leader in the political/legislative arena, especially in the effort to expand healthcare coverage to every American.

Under the Union Constitution, George Gresham, Secretary-Treasurer will assume the Presidency. "We expect a seamless transition," Rivera said. "George Gresham has been an 1199 leader in the effort to improve healthcare and workers' lives at every level for over 30 years. No one is more qualified to lead this dynamic organization."

For his part, Gresham said, "Of course we'll miss Dennis' day-to-day counsel, but he isn't going far. By building the national Union of healthcare workers, he will in fact be giving all of us additional strength. And as the biggest single unit in the new Union, we will be there to support him in his efforts."

The new national Union's goal is to unite the 10 million healthcare workers in America to stand up for quality care, comprehensive health care reform, and good jobs that support families and encourage people to pursue careers as nurses and other healthcare workers.

Kenneth E. Raske, President of Greater New York Hospital Association, and a long-time partner of Dennis Rivera through the 1199SEIU/GNYHA Healthcare Education Project said, "We extend our warmest congratulations to Dennis, a trusted ally on healthcare policy issues. We look forward to working with Dennis in his new role on both his continued active involvement in New York matters as well as on national healthcare issues of concern to GNYHA's member institutions, their patients, and their entire workforce."

"Dennis Rivera knows how to unite people to change lives and lift up communities," said SEIU President Andy Stern. "He has reached out to employers to create pioneering partnerships for change. He has reached out to other healthcare organizations and Unions, and he has worked with elected leaders of both parties to bring healthcare to millions and improve quality care in hospitals, nursing homes and homecare settings.

"Dennis is tough, smart, and compassionate, just what's needed to transform healthcare in this country," Stern said. "At this moment in history, as the winds of change are blowing toward fundamental healthcare reform, and as SEIU redoubles its efforts to fix our broken health care system, Dennis' decision to shift his focus to the national effort couldn't come at a better time."

****