Service Employees International Union

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) locals 1, 4, 7, 73, 73HC, 880, 18007, and the Illinois State Council, represent more than 165,000 Illinois workers in public, health care/social services, and building service. It was started by a group of Chicago janitors and was the first union in the country to jointly represent hospital workers and public employees. Women make up the majority of the membership nationwide and the union claims to represent more immigrant employees than any other union. SEIU has used rule changes implemented by the Blagojevich administration to add tens of thousands of new members.

The Service Employees International Union is a career patron of Governor Rod Blagojevich (D), Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D), Secretary of State Jesse White (D), Senate President Emil Jones (D).

From 1993 through June 30, 2006, Service Employees International Union gave $4,847,000 to candidates for Illinois statewide constitutional and legislative office. $2,999,000 came from the SEIU Council of Chicago, $1,056,000 came from the SEIU PEA International of Washington, $355,000 came from SEUI Local 880 of New Orleans, and $255,000 came from SEIU Local 73 of Chicago. 94% of these funds went to Democrats.

Last revised September 2006.