The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "SEIU" ...
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Corruption in the 2-million-member Service Employees
This investigation of the nation's fastest-growing labor union uncovered corruption in its largest California local as well as questionable financial practices at several affiliated organizations and its national headquarters. The stories revealed that the president of the California chapter - who represented nearly 200,000 working poor people, caregivers making about $9 an hour - had funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in dues money to himself his relatives, and spent similar sums on golf resorts, expensive restaurants and a Beverly Hills cigar lounge. They also showed that Tyrone Freeman misused two nonprofits for financial gain and political purposes, and that the head of the SEIU's largest Michigan local misappropriated funds from one of the charities. In addition, the stories reported that the SEIU's national office, while holding itself up as a model of reform, paid millions of dollars to consulting firms, nonprofits, and individuals with family ties and other personal connections to the union's top leaders.
Tags: Unions; SEIU; corruption; California; Michigan; Tyrone Freeman
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Nursing grievances
A historic effort to unionize hursing homes aims to improve the quality of life for patients and staff.
Tags: nursing homes; union; quality of life; SEIU
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A Clean Sweep
The American Prospect reports on the janitors' strike in Los Angeles in April 2000, and explains how janitors' international union, SEIU, helped them to get a wage increase of about 26%. The story looks at various labor markets and sectors of economy and examines their unions' attempts achieving pay raises. The report details the unionization of security screeners at airports, hotel workers, health care workers and nursing home workers. "In service industries that can't flee, unionization of low-wage workers can triumph, but only with heroic effort," finds the magazine.
Tags: employment; wages; low income; Justice for Janitors; labor; work force; minorities; Latino; immigrants; social issues