KDKA Investigates: SEIU Healthcare’s influence over Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Who’s operating the town of Pittsburgh: Mayor Ed Gainey or SEIU Healthcare?

The well being care union spent a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} to get the mayor elected. A union vice chairman co-chaired his transition committee, and different former union officers now maintain key positions in his administration.

The query is, is SEIU Healthcare truly dictating coverage, orchestrating a battle with UPMC by demanding the hospital large enable the union to characterize its well being care staff?

KDKA-TV obtained emails to attempt to shed some gentle.

Allegheny County Govt Wealthy Fitzgerald attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the brand new 17-story, $1.6 billion UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Tower, a challenge which can convey hundreds of development and everlasting jobs to the town.

“All the parents who will come collectively to construct this over the subsequent couple of years, and the roles that will probably be created right here,” Fitzgerald added on the groundbreaking on June 14, 2022.

Then-gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro attended the occasion, however conspicuously absent was Gainey, who since turning into mayor, has declined to attend all UPMC occasions. This consists of the position of the ultimate beam on the new UPMC Mercy Hospital, one other indication of dangerous blood between the town and the area’s largest employer.

“At present, I’m signing an govt order directing my regulation and finance division to conduct a evaluate of properties owned by organizations claiming tax exemption primarily based on their charitable standing,” Gainey stated at a press convention on Jan. 24, 2023.

After taking workplace, Mayor Gainey had promised to fulfill with UPMC and the three different main non-profits — Pitt, Carnegie Mellon College and Allegheny Well being Community — to barter PILOTS (funds to the town in lieu of taxes), however as an alternative, he is now difficult the tax-exempt standing of their particular person properties.

“We’re right here to guard the taxpayer and make it possible for everyone pays their fair proportion,” stated Mayor Gainey.

A number of sources inform KDKA-TV talks between the town of Pittsburgh and UPMC broke down, not over cash, however over Mayor Gainey’s demand that UPMC enable SEIU Healthcare to characterize its well being care staff, leaving a $40 million dedication from UPMC on the desk.

KDKA-TV requested Lisa Frank, the chief working and administrative officer for the town of Pittsburgh, if the town demanded that UPMC enable the union at Presbyterian Hospital and all through its system as a part of these negotiations.

“The mayor, I believe , has all the time been on the facet of staff,” Frank stated in response. 

SEIU Healthcare has tried unsuccessfully to unionize these staff for greater than a decade and two years in the past grew to become the first backer of Mayor Gainey’s election marketing campaign. Based on marketing campaign finance filings, it spent greater than $350,000 to elect Gainey, greater than all different contributors mixed.

In flip, Gainey appointed SEIU vice chairman and political director Silas Russel to co-chair his transition committee and named others to key spots in his administration — former SEIU Healthcare communications director Maria Montaño is his press secretary and the union’s former vice chairman Lisa Frank is now the town’s chief working and administrative officer.

“The union’s job is the union’s job. The mayor’s job is the mayor’s job,” stated Frank when requested if the mayor is doing the union’s bidding.

Whereas Frank was evasive, the mayor’s press secretary issued this assertion denying the mayor demanded an SEIU union at his assembly with UPMC CEO Leslie Davis in June of 2022:

“The mayor has lengthy been a supporter of the appropriate of working individuals to return collectively for aa union and a voice at work … In a gathering with UPMC, he requested them to take a seat down and take heed to their staff, nonetheless, he has not made any calls for.”

The outcomes of a KDKA Investigates Proper to Know Request inform a unique story. Within the days earlier than the assembly, there’s a flurry of emails between native SEIU Healthcare head Russell and administration higher-ups making ready the mayor’s speaking factors. They make express calls for for a union with Russell truly dictating a lot of these factors.

“You (Mayor Gainey) need to have the ability to have a partnership with UPMC, to collaborate with them on main improvement and social initiatives within the metropolis … Earlier than that’s doable nonetheless, you (Davis) have to decide to: A good election association with SEIU to convey an finish to the lengthy and contentious dispute between UPMC and its frontline staff.”  

After reviewing the primary draft, Russell affords extra factors resembling: “You additionally imagine that the workforce disaster in healthcare is so urgent we can not afford to see continued battle and disruption.” That are added verbatim to the ultimate preparation notes then despatched to the mayor.

Sources say UPMC rejected the demand, telling the mayor they’re prepared to debate funds lieu of taxes however not their inside labor relations.

The 2 sides haven’t met since. UPMC declined remark, however in an announcement, Russell defended SEIU Healthcare’s affect saying, “Each well being care employee ought to have the power to kind a union … we predict each elected official must be working to carry UPMC accountable and guarantee hospital staff have a voice at work.”