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Burger withdraws candidacy, backs 'union sister' [Ben Smith]
SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger has withdrawn her candidacy to head the union, ending a surprisingly bloodless succession fight in a group that is also one of the most important political organizations in the country.
In a letter to the union's international executive board, Burger warmly endorsed her rival and rejected interpretations of her defeat as a rejection of the union's current leadership.
Burger had the support of President Andy Stern and a majority of individual board members, but her rival, Mary Kay Henry, won the backing of key large locals who dominate the weighted vote with a promise to rebuild relationships with other unions and to refocus the union on organizing, though she has also promised to keep it a political powerhouse.
"I am writing to you today to let you know while I would have treasured the opportunity to serve as SEIU President, I am withdrawing my candidacy," Burger wrote in a letter to the SEIU's International Executive Board today. "Mary Kay Henry and I have been close allies for years, and we share the same goals for our union and for the larger labor movement. We have worked side-by-side on many initiatives over the years, and I wish her only the best as President of SEIU. And because I love our union, I will do everything in my power to make sure that this is a smooth transition and that our union will continue to help our members do extraordinary things."
Burger continued that -- in a stark break with the tradition of bitter labor succession battles -- she plans to remain at the union, where she's slated to serve in the number-two position, as Secretary- Treasurer, until 2012.
"We women have a special knack for putting our egos aside and keeping our eye on the bigger picture and the common good. I am a union sister of Mary Kay’s in the truest sense of the term. We intend to show the broader community how, despite honest differences over a leadership choice, once that choice is made we can come back together as close working colleagues for the benefit of our members and all working people," she wrote.
Burger also tried to rebut the notion the the rejection of Stern's choice meant a rejection of his legacy or agenda.
"The media is just wrong when they suggest that this contest represents a 'shift in SEIU’s priorities' or a 'rejection of the Stern/ Burger agenda,'" she wrote.
Full memo after the jump.
April 28, 2010
To the Members of the International Executive Board:
Thirty-eight years ago, as a member of SEIU, I was faced with a major decision about participating in my first wild cat strike. My father gave me good advice, telling me to stick to the union because unions make a difference in working peoples’ lives. In the years since, I have had the most extraordinary opportunity to each day apply my values and my convictions to my work. I have been granted the chance to stand by and for people who work – janitors, security officers, nurses’ aides, home care attendants, child care providers and public sector workers like I once was. I have sat at the bargaining table, in the offices of elected leaders and, most importantly, in living rooms all around this country, serving at every level of this union from rank-and-file member to organizer to local leader to field director to Secretary-Treasurer – all to help working people have their shot at the American Dream.
I am writing to you today to let you know while I would have treasured the opportunity to serve as SEIU President, I am withdrawing my candidacy.
I am very proud of what our union has accomplished over the past 14 years, doubling our members’ strength, winning major victories for workers and changing the political landscape in this country to help working families make life better for their children and grandchildren. Mary Kay Henry and I have been close allies for years, and we share the same goals for our union and for the larger labor movement. We have worked side-by-side on many initiatives over the years, and I wish her only the best as President of SEIU. And because I love our union, I will do everything in my power to make sure that this is a smooth transition and that our union will continue to help our members do extraordinary things.
We women have a special knack for putting our egos aside and keeping our eye on the bigger picture and the common good. I am a union sister of Mary Kay’s in the truest sense of the term. We intend to show the broader community how, despite honest differences over a leadership choice, once that choice is made we can come back together as close working colleagues for the benefit of our members and all working people.
I want to thank many of you for supporting my candidacy and sharing my vision for the future of our union. The media is just wrong when they suggest that this contest represents a “shift in SEIU’s priorities” or a “rejection of the Stern/Burger agenda.” I know this was a tough decision for many of you, that each and every one of you weighed this choice carefully, and I accept this outcome.
It is time for us to focus back on the important work we need to do. My job right now is to continue as Secretary-Treasurer and to help Mary Kay and the rest of the leadership of our union to finish the job of reaching our ambitious Justice for All goals adopted by our members at our 2008 Convention.
Again, I congratulate Mary Kay and look forward to cementing our partnership as we lead SEIU through 2010 and beyond.
In unity,
Anna Burger Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU