SEIU Healthcare Michigan was formed in 2008 out of a merger of several struggling Michigan SEIU locals, packaged as “consolidation” but in reality, driven by declining membership and financial troubles. Instead of strengthening representation, the merger created a top-heavy structure that has since been plagued by corruption, financial mismanagement, and revolving-door leadership scandals. What was supposed to be a fresh start for a Michigan union quickly turned into a case study in how not to run a union, with three consecutive presidents removed for misconduct and membership collapsing to a fraction of its former size.
Declining Membership
- SEIU Healthcare Michigan once claimed around 55,000 members in 2012.
- After Michigan enacted a law allowing home health care workers to resign from the union, the membership collapsed, falling to approximately 11,000 by 2014.
- By 2022, the decline was even more dramatic: the union was reported to have less than 6,000 members, roughly one-tenth what it had in 2010.
- Overall, SEIU Healthcare Michigan is said to have lost 84% of its members since 2012.
- The drop in membership has also led to steep declines in finances, assets, and dues income for the union.
A History of Corruption
Rickman Jackson
The first President, Rickman Jackson, was removed from office in less than a year due to his association with Tyrone Freeman, the president of two SEIU locals in California who siphoned tens of thousands of dollars from the local unions he oversaw. Jackson had been Freeman’s chief of staff prior to becoming the President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. He received ongoing payments from Freeman’s locals after he came to Michigan. In addition to being removed, he was ordered to return $33,500. But he remained an SEIU employee.
Marge Faville
The second president, Marge Faville, was also removed amid corruption allegations. She collected a $163,000 salary, drove a union-provided $47,000 SUV, and lived rent-free in a Detroit “corporate apartment.” She put her daughter, son, and niece on the union payroll for more than $160,000 a year combined. In 2011, members accused her of spending just $8,800 on bargaining while running up $5,420 in charges at a nearby pizza place. The union was placed under emergency trusteeship during her tenure, and she was ultimately removed in 2017.
Andrea Acevedo
SEIU’s third president, Andrea Acevedo, was removed in 2022 after SEIU International found multiple instances of financial mismanagement. Investigators determined she failed to adopt an annual budget, complete required audits, or properly document credit card expenditures. She also failed to conduct officer elections on time and left the union without a Finance Director after the previous one resigned, citing “untenable working conditions” under her leadership. These failures ultimately led to her removal by the parent union.
Rickman Jackson – The first President, Rickman Jackson, was removed from office in less than a year due to his association with Tyrone Freeman, the president of two SEIU locals in California who siphoned tens of thousands of dollars from the local unions he oversaw. Jackson had been Freeman’s chief of staff prior to becoming the President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. He received ongoing payments from Freeman’s locals after he came to Michigan. In addition to being removed, he was ordered to return $33,500. But he remained an SEIU employee. https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-union26-2008aug26-story.html
Marge Faville – The second president, Marge Faville, was also removed amid corruption allegations. She collected a $163,000 salary, drove a union-provided $47,000 SUV, and lived rent-free in a Detroit “corporate apartment.” She put her daughter, son, and niece on the union payroll for more than $160,000 a year combined. In 2011, members accused her of spending just $8,800 on bargaining while running up $5,420 in charges at a nearby pizza place. The union was placed under emergency trusteeship during her tenure, and she was ultimately removed in 2017. https://www.mackinac.org/union-behind-michigan-dues-skim-facing-more-corruption-allegations
Andrea Acevedo: SEIU’s third president, Andrea Acevedo, was removed in 2022 after SEIU International found multiple instances of financial mismanagement. Investigators determined she failed to adopt an annual budget, complete required audits, or properly document credit card expenditures. She also failed to conduct officer elections on time and left the union without a Finance Director after the previous one resigned, citing “untenable working conditions” under her leadership. These failures ultimately led to her removal by the parent union.
SEIU Placed into Trusteeship – Twice in Five Years
What is “Trusteeship?”
Placing a union into trusteeship means the parent union takes over control of a local union because of serious problems like financial mismanagement, corruption, or leaders not following the rules. When this happens, the local union’s elected officers lose their authority, and the parent union sends in a trustee to run things until the issues are resolved.
“potential financial malpractice”
2017 – SEIU International removed all elected and appointed officials of SEIU Healthcare Michigan and placed the local under emergency trusteeship following allegations of financial mismanagement. The trusteeship was launched after a whistleblower reported “potential financial malpractice,” prompting an internal review that uncovered suspected abuses of the union’s loan and paid-time-off policies.
As a result, SEIU International appointed a team of trustees to take control, removed all union officers and board members, and initiated a process to investigate and correct the alleged misconduct.
“substantiated allegations of serious financial malpractice”
2022 – SEIU International again placed SEIU Healthcare Michigan under an emergency trusteeship, citing “substantiated allegations of serious financial malpractice” and a breakdown in internal controls and democratic procedures.
All elected officers, executive board members, and union representatives were removed, and new trustees were appointed to take over the union’s operations, investigate the alleged misconduct.
- 2017 – SEIU International removed all elected and appointed officials of SEIU Healthcare Michigan and placed the local under emergency trusteeship following allegations of financial mismanagement. The trusteeship was launched after a whistleblower reported “potential financial malpractice,” prompting an internal review that uncovered suspected abuses of the union’s loan and paid-time-off policies. As a result, SEIU International appointed a team of trustees to take control, removed all union officers and board members, and initiated a process to investigate and correct the alleged misconduct.
- 2022 – SEIU International again placed SEIU Healthcare Michigan under an emergency trusteeship, citing “substantiated allegations of serious financial malpractice” and a breakdown in internal controls and democratic procedures. All elected officers, executive board members, and union representatives were removed, and new trustees were appointed to take over the union’s operations, investigate the alleged misconduct.
What It Means To Be A Teamster
- Teamsters members are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of IBT’s constitution and local bylaws.
- More than 5,000 unfair labor practice charges have been filed against the Teamsters since 2015 – an average of 513 per year, according to the National Labor Relations Board.