SEIU Michigan Voters Celebrate Wins for Pro-Worker Leaders and Ballot Measures in Midterm Elections
Working People Joined Together to Vote to Protect Our Freedoms, and Leaders Who Will Build Michigan That Works for All
MICHIGAN- Following a decisive election night, workers and leaders of SEIU Michigan, issued the following statements, on behalf its members and workers with the Fight for $15 and a Union:
“After months of knocking doors, making calls, and talking to my neighbors and co-workers, I am thrilled to see our hard work pay off. In the face of racist attacks and power-hungry politicians trying to spread lies and mistrust, working people turned out to pass ballot measures that protect our freedoms to decide what to do with our bodies and to ensure every person, regardless of race or zip code, can exercise our fundamental freedom to vote. All across our state, Black and brown voters and young voters and working class voters of all backgrounds decided this election on leaders who stand with working people, not greedy corporations.
Just like we did in 2020, when extremist Republicans, motivated by racism and lies, tried to overturn the will of the people and silence Black and brown voices, we are prepared to defend our votes and make sure the board certifies the results. And we know our fight doesn’t start or stop at the ballot box. We’re going to keep organizing—on our jobs together in our unions, in our communities and wherever we can–to build our power together. We won’t stop until every person in our state can live with dignity and have a real say in the decisions that impact our lives,” said Dorothy Bates, nursing home worker in Detroit and member leader with SEIU Healthcare Michigan for over 25 years.
“From the UP to Detroit, Marquette to Down River, Benton Harbor to Flint, working people showed up in force to elect leaders at every level who are committed to building a Michigan that works for all of us. We are proud to congratulate Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel on winning re-election as well as the new majorities in the House and Senate. We look forward to working with them to truly deliver for workers, lift up our communities, and build a better, more just future for all.
This has been SEIU’s biggest midterm field program in our history. In Michigan, we knocked over 200,000 doors across our state to engage working people on the issues that matter most to them. As a union of service and care workers that unites tens of thousands of diverse members across our state, we believe in the power of joining together on the job and in our democracy. Together is the only way forward to the future we want where all our rights are respected, all our work is valued, and all our communities have what they need to thrive, no matter our race, zip code or background,” said Brandice Mullen, Vice President of SEIU Michigan and MI State Director of SEIU Local 1.
###
SEIU Michigan represents nearly 30,000 workers across the state in the healthcare industry, the public sector and in property services. Our members provide essential services and care to our community. We believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits while fighting for a more just society and an economy and democracy that works for all of us - Black, brown, white, Asian Pacific Islander and Native - not just corporations and the wealthy. We believe that we cannot achieve economic justice without securing racial justice and vice versa.