US

Video: SEIU Officials Throw Out Member Questioning Union’s Ballot-Counting Practices

It‘s been a longstanding mantra of Glenn Beck’s: he doesn’t have a problem with union members, but rather thinks it’s the union leaders who are warping the unions. And he’s also been encouraging people to stand with courage. This video may provide proof of both.

Mariam Nojiam, a state worker for the Department of Motor Vehicles and SEIU member, became suspicious when she happened on vote-counters who were apparently breaking the rules pertaining to an internal union election.

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey sets up the clip (since Mariam caught everything on her cell phone):

The SEIU held an election by mail for an internal election — for which it apparently uses the same kind of secret ballots that they want to deny workers with Card Check. By SEIU’s own rules, those ballots are supposed to arrive via US Postal Service, with postmarks to note the date so that the counters can verify they arrived before the deadline. One SEIU observer noticed counters opening large envelopes of ballots with no postmarks at all on them — and when she tried to protest, the other SEIU officials in the room pushed her out the door.

Here’s the video:

But wait, Morrissey has the best part:

For a final irony, the SEIU’s spokesman insisted that Nojiam’s protest was irrelevant, because the rules state that a challenge has to come from one of the candidates. How’s that for convenient, eh? The union apparently has no problem breaking the rules to count batches of apparently invalid ballots, but when it comes to someone catching them at that game, the SEIU insists on full compliance with the rules on protests.

“It’s about time that they [union officials] be responsible and transparent to their members,” Mariam told CBSSacramento.com.

At least she took a stand.

Comments (131)

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  • nonofmybiznez
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:27pm

    the only thing they want is your money to buy power. Your dues go directly to fund the Democratic Political machine.

    Report Post » nonofmybiznez  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:26pm

    You supported them and they are in control,silly thinking you could ask a question! My father was run out of Chicago by Union thugs and the Mafia for trying to start a company without their permission.

    Report Post »  
  • Tracking
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:26pm

    Are they finally waking up to what their unions are doing? Perhaps hope does spring eternal. It seems that unions would rather have jobs and companies move overseas if they can’t force them to hire unions workers and tell them where they can build and expand. The president has remained silent on tihs issue and that tells me all I need to know about his priorities. Obama will do anything, and I mean anything to protect these unions. Votes. That‘s what it’s all about. Protecting his union friends until the election. Obamas’ room mate in College said that Obama would do and say anything to get in power and would do anything to stay in power. He said Obama told him that on many occasions.
    It is clear as a bell to me that Obama does not have this country’s interest at heart. The citizens are only a way to get what he wants, to be used and lied to. He just does not think like everyone else when it comes to our constitution and all of us. Something is amiss in his mind and his upbringing.
    I do not believe a word he says. Period. It also is not coincidence to me that all of the middle east is in turmoil. Do you all know that Acorn changed it’s name and now has offices in the middle east? Do you all know that Bill Ayres and his wife, along with others, went there to give “lectures” on democracy and change? To encourage uprisings? This is absolutely true.

    Report Post »  
  • I_can't_believe_this_stuff
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:26pm

    It’s really very simple. Union leaders don’t have to follow rules because they MAKE the rules, and YOU OBEY them OR ELSE. Besides they perfected this method of vote counting in the 2008 election, and nobody complained then.

    NObama in 2011 … why wait?

    Report Post »  
  • oriondma05
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:23pm

    DOJ will be all over this faster than your can say New Black Panther Party.

    Report Post » oriondma05  
  • geonj
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:22pm

    i love, LOVE, private sector unions. i hate, HATE, public service unions. using taxpayer money to increase their chances of getting elected, obama and his circle of thieves enticed seiu and others in the public sevice industries to do whatever was necessary to get himself elected. screw you and your public service union friends mr president.

    Report Post » geonj  
  • last frontier
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:21pm

    Just seeing this on the news means the union thugs days are numbered.

    Report Post » last frontier  
  • noleftturn
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:18pm

    Rules! Unions don’t need no stinking rules!

    Report Post » noleftturn  
  • Nathan-H
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:18pm

    SEIU needs to be under investigation by the FBI and the CIA.. they are becoming a home grown terrorist organization…

    Report Post »  
  • ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:18pm

    Wow, now that is shocking news!

    Report Post » ENTITLEMENTSBLOW  
  • jollylama
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:18pm

    There is nothing to see here.. move along and forget what you saw.. if you know what’s good for you.

    Report Post »  
  • The Catbird
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:17pm

    These Bas***ds make Pauly Walnuts look like a classy guy.

    Report Post » The Catbird  
  • bitter clinger
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:16pm

    I think thats how they do the elections in Iran.

    Report Post » bitter clinger  
  • CatherineAnn
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:15pm

    I wonder what they will do to her? I am glad she spoke up and hope other Union members wise up. So how much cheating will we see in 2012?

    Report Post » CatherineAnn  
  • frustratedwithgovt
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:15pm

    It doesn‘t surprise me but I’m glad to see that at least some of them might be waking up. Hopefully more do.

    Report Post » frustratedwithgovt  
  • jeff.cooper
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:12pm

    There was a little incident ……. zzzzzz…… but umm…. it was quickly resolved…..
    LOL what is that supposed to mean, Quickdraw Flores?
    Given the choice between taking a job that required me joining a union or being unemployed, I’d stay unemployed and keep looking for something else.

    Report Post » jeff.cooper  
  • Mr. Oshawott
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:12pm

    It’s no surprise that SEIU would use deception, intimidation, and coercion to make their utopian dream become a reality. I give credit to Miriam for challenging this tyrannical public-sector union.

    Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • 65Mustang
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:37pm

      She is a very brave person. It take a lot of guts to show fraud in the SEIU.

      Report Post »  
    • jedi.kep
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:40am

      Props to the lady. Standing on principle. Union people are not the problem. The corrupt leadership IS the problem. The light is shining! Keep it up people! The roaches will scatter as we keep shining the light!

      Report Post » jedi.kep  
  • det45
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

    Yeah Yeah….They’re looking out for the workers…..Right?……..NOT!

    Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:56pm

      Yep, looking out for their members, tat isw as long as th leadrship gets re-elected every time so they can loot the union’s treasury for their own benefit.

      This story is about SEIU but, the same thing is goingon i EVERY union in America.

      If YOU are a union member and are reading this, YOU need to start finding out exactly how your union dues are being used. How much is the leadership of your union being paid? How many “Benefits” do they receive every year that YOU the worker who pays their salary doesn’t receive? What kid of COZY relationshisips does your ledership have with any criminal organizations? Is your money being used to aid your employer to move YOUR job overseas – - – behind your back?

      You had better find out!!!

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:05pm

    Put these clowns in a Mexican prison and throw away the damned key.
    They should be prosecuted without exception…and maybe they could bunk with Edwards.

    Report Post »  
  • ThomasUSA
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:05pm

    This is what “Democracy” looks like!

    Report Post » ThomasUSA  
    • swalt
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 5:24pm

      For all you union workers out there who are sick and tired of being associated with these self serving money mongering union elitists, I have a little story to tell you. I WAS a union worker with AFSCME, an arm of the AFL-CIO. Back in 1992 we were sick and tired of these people taking our dues, letting us have 25 % to keep at our local and sending the rest back to New York so they could line their pockets and spend OUR money on things we didn’t agree with. We were able to kick the punks out and we formed our own Association, hired a lawyer to represent us, and we are much better off now than we were back then. They fought us tooth and nail, put out hate mail, tried bribery by taking a bunch of local “yes men” on a trip to Vegas … and even had a mock trial with representatives from New York ( we are in Oregon) and they kicked the nine of us who started the movement to decertify AFSCME out of the union. Six weeks later we booted them out. How? It started with just nine of us. We met after work and on weekends, did our research, talked to a lot of people and came up with a plan. We went to our local Labor Relations Board, got a stack of cards from them which asked a simple question: Are you interested in voting on whether to keep AFSCME as your union … YES or NO. All we had to do was get a certain percentage of the workforce to sign in the affirmative, and the LRB held a vote, and THEY counted them. When it was over, AFSCME was voted out.

      Report Post » swalt  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:04pm

    Nobama’s domestic-terrorist thugs strike again! He must be so proud – give those guys a NobamaCare waiver!

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • Zer0
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:03pm

    Silly peon! There is no dissention in Marxism!

    Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:02pm

    Lucky that they didn’t beat her down but @ least they don’t like thugs .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:02pm

    Lucky that they didn’t beat her down but @ least they don’t like thugs .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • sWampy
    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:00pm

    Does anyone expect anything more from criminal union thugs?

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:05pm

      Don’t question the TOP THUGS! You union folks still think they “care” about you? Suckers….

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • David, the Constitutional Libertarian
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:07pm

      Why is it that communists……….erm Democrats do not want secure voting in elections?
      Why is it that communists………erm Democrats want non secret voting for installing unions but not union officials?
      Why is it that we do not call Democrats what they are, communist agitprop?

      Report Post » David, the Constitutional Libertarian  
    • The_Almighty_Creestof
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

      For the most part, they do not have to cheat. Depending on what type of vote it is. Union members are not entitled to know the details of what they are voting on. All they get is the “spun” gist of it and a well versed speech on whether or not the union urges you to vote yes or no.

      Their stance is that you do not need to know the details…because you hired them to negotiate for you.

      Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

      I am tired of reading these stories and complaining without doing anything! It’s time to start taking things into our own hands! Groups start organizing and weeding out these people. Post these stories on every liberal blog, email to friends, etc. There are WAY more of us than them. We need to organize and get active!

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

      They are nothing more than a government mafia (and that will probably insult the mafia) headed up by thugs and criminals and the sooner their members realize it and get out, the better. If they would leave ‘en masse’ there would be nothing the organizers could do. Wake up, members, you are being used and abused.

      Report Post »  
    • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:16pm

      It’s not who votes that matters, it’s who counts the votes. – Stalin

      Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • SavingtheRepublic.com
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:19pm

      ^____^____^
      You can be sure they are mobilizing for ‘12 election.. I am expecting rampant voter fraud and bailout tampering committed by the unions and special interests that will have controlling interests at all polling locations. There was an article I posted on STR from CNS News about 64,000 cases of possible voter fraud in New Mexico.

      Cessna what you posted is why I created STR you and other Blazers really need to take a serious look at it!

      Report Post » SavingtheRepublic.com  
    • million
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:21pm

      We are all going through a training period in our country. The TSA, the IRS & the thug unions are three branches of Obama’s army that are whipping us all into shape so we will be more comfortable in the police state we are in the process of becoming.

      TEA anybody?

      Report Post » million  
    • SavingtheRepublic.com
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:25pm

      @ myself!

      whoa massive typo should be “ballot tampering” (hey Blaze how about an edit function?!)

      Report Post » SavingtheRepublic.com  
    • Gas137
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:25pm

      To paraphrase Hemingway, getting kicked out of the union hall is like getteing kicked out of a leper colony.

      Report Post » Gas137  
    • All_Right_Winger_Blog
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:25pm

      Union members need to have the means to be able to push back against union leadership.

      Report Post » AllRightWinger  
    • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:27pm

      I hope someone keeps an eye on Ms. Nojiam. They need to make sure that some kind of accident or a “mysterious disappearance” doesn’t happen to her. I fully expect her to be missing or her body found before too long of a time. Probably be more like one of these days, they are likely to find out that she “likes” to walk in front of moving cars or something like that. AFTER ALL, THAT’S THE SEIU WAY!!!

      Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
    • Eric_The_Red_State
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:28pm

      @CESSNA152

      I totally AGREE. GET INVOLVED. Go to these meeting. Stand there with a sign. Go to a Tea Party Rally – Go to a Town Hall –
      Call your congressman – I know, they suck but they have to listen.

      Get your friends to VOTE

      Donate to the candidate of your choice – even if it’s $5 or $1

      TALK out loud at work

      Put a sign in the window of your car with any message that you choose.

      My sign says – SOCIALISM 2012 with the OBAMA “Rainbow O” as the O in Socialism.
      If you are in Portland Oregon and you see it – wave.

      Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • vennoye
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:31pm

      You don’t have to be clairvoyant to see how this is going to end! Millions in union dues going to buy politicans, retirement funds not being funded beyond 50-60%, jobs lost because fed and states are broke……..Thank heavens I was never dependent on the unions!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:32pm

      Duh……Just doing what unions do!

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:35pm

      yea,,,how dare they question them. How else are they going to control them if they question them….you don’t have any reason or authority to question,,,just do what they say. THAT is part of the agenda,,,,,right???

      Report Post »  
    • ViperII
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:35pm

      not me! Or anyone else that follows their shenanigans synonym for unions: “Angry Mobs”

      Report Post »  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:40pm

      No. I expect nothing less. They will again be involved with ballot counting and machine rigging in 2012. what a worthless pile of turds. unions suck.

      Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:42pm

      Worker ants never question the hive.
      Thuggery …..she will ever work in this town again

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:50pm

      I think we need to take it easy on the Union people. If we require them to have post marks on their ballet stuffing efforts all they will need to do is run them over to the post office, slap expensive postage on the fake ballets and then wait for the delivery. It’s a waste of their time and money when they could continue taking them out of their car trunk like they are used to.

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • grandma7
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 4:58pm

      Agenda 21 meetings won’t allow questions, either. They, also, told us to write our questions down. Progressive tactics!!!

      Report Post »  
    • mill
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 5:10pm

      this type thing will be happening with the 2012 elections to get obama back into office…..

      Report Post »  
    • swalt
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 5:18pm

      The unions are responsible for 99% of the problems we have in this country right now. Want to help neuter them? Then pass this along to all you come in contact with. PLEASE!!! And keep in mind, the Beck referred to in this posting is NOT Glenn Beck.
      A little known law that ALL unions are supposed to make their members aware of is called Beck’s Law. But the unions DO NOT tell their members. Why? Keep reading.The Supreme Court’s Beck Decision Recognizes Individual Worker Rights: In 1989, the U. S. Supreme Court established what are now known as “Beck rights” in the landmark decision Communication Workers v. Beck, Beck rights dictate that workers cannot be forced under union contracts to pay any dues or fees beyond those necessary for the performance of the union’s employee representation duties. In other words, any worker who objects to his union’s use of his dues money for purposes not directly related to collective bargaining is entitled to a refund of that portion of his dues. Beck rights are a triumph of individual rights over the political weight of union leaders. Workers in labor unions DO NOT HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR UNION BOSSES POLITICAL ACTIONS. All the member needs to do is notify the union they do not want their dues used for anything other than those directly related to collective bargaining, they will get a refund of their dues money. Look here for more information: http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=1403
      If I can get enough people to pass this

      Report Post » swalt  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:12pm

      So we once again can see SEIU performing criminal actions and nothing will get done to those at the top who initiate the tactics of crook and thug across the board.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:14pm

      Like Stalin said: it is those who count the ballots that matters.

      Report Post »  
    • Oahujack
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:34pm

      And a company of SEIU members had the contract to count the ballots in the 2010 Nevada elections….and Harry won!

      Report Post »  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 6:52pm

      Unions and there threat of strikes are nothing short of extortion and thugs. Only inferior or lazy employees benefit from unions. 1 motivated employee will do the work of 5 union dolts and be paid 5 times as much. Unions and socialism are illegitimate inbred cousins.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 7:13pm

      This is going on in ct right now. Governor Malloy has harsher cuts on union members (made by union leaders but against members requests). Overwhelming number of union employees against new obamacare health deal union created with Governor. Votw Tallys coming back as 86% in favor, when over 755 signed petition against measure. If there is an investigative reporter who can actually investigate, please come to Ct. and look into this massive fraud from Governor Malloy and the unions combined.

      Report Post »  
    • BlueStrat
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 8:29pm

      I wish I could watch the video, but this video refuses to play in FireFox 4.01, even with NoScript & AdBlock Plus turned off. Too much ad-tracking BS.

      Please Blaze editors, at least make sure the videos you attempt to present actually work in the most popular web browser.

      I wish I could comment, but unfortunately it would be like a blind man commenting on how colors affect his mood.

      I’m constantly frustrated by things not rendering or working as they should on this site. I have no problems elsewhere.

      FIX YOUR CRAPPY WEBSITE BLAZE! YOUR CODING SUCKS THE HUGE SWEATIES!!

      Report Post »  
    • BlueStrat
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 9:14pm

      For those having problems viewing the video on The Blaze, it can be viewed here:

      http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4ac_1308175190

      Report Post »  
    • BeardedDog
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 9:53pm

      No. I know a former local union boss (UAW) who confirmed to me years ago that the Mafia has an influence in the unions. Not that anyone should be surprised.

      Report Post »  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 11:33pm

      It is not just Union Elections that depend on mail in ballots. I have the same concern with Local/State mail-in ballot elections. I am now a candidate for local election and our City/County has mail in only balloting since it is apparently to expensive to run “polling” places for voters to make the physical trip to cast their ballots.

      In Washington it has been proven that even state elections have been manipulated after the fact and after at least 4 recounts in the election for Governor. When the Republican had a lead but not enough to out run a recount they recounted at least 3-4 times and with every recount there were areas of the state were finding “Provisional” ballots or ballots that were laying on the floor in the corner etc etc… But the recount did not quit until the Republican conceded the election.

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
    • cybernetic59
      Posted on June 15, 2011 at 11:56pm

      I use Firefox 4.0.1 and the video plays fine.

      Report Post »  
    • BlueStrat
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:30am

      @Cybernetic59

      I think my video problems in this case (as I said, works everywhere else) has something to do with ad-based javascript scripts that attempt to track/monetize/insure ad-views is responsible. Some of the ad-based/DRM/tracking scripts only run on Windows operating systems. I use PC-BSD, which is a packaged-up, easy-to-install/configure desktop version.of FreeBSD 8.1.

      However, I stand by my comments on the poor quality of the design/construction/coding of The Blaze’ website & discussion/forum software. Let‘s hope for Glenns’ sake that this sites’ designers are better at security than website design, and if not, that LulzSec or Anonymous don’t decide to take out this website.

      “The Blaze” Webmaster/Webdesigner: You may want to check out a website called “Slashdot” http://slashdot.org/ for ideas on discussion/forum layout and design, particularly “back-end” nuts-and-bolts software that would minimize changes to the “look” while making YOUR job a LOT easier and make the site better & more secure. The above site is attacked 24/7/365 by determined & skilled hackers. Much of the software has been open-sourced, or uses open-source (generally GPLv2), so there’s little or no licensing costs or hassles. Find it here: http://www.slashcode.com/

      Report Post »  
    • jmanuola
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 2:57am

      I don’t know if you realize this but in most states, these same union thugs are the state employees designated with the duty of counting our ballots…for EVERYTHING.

      Report Post »  
    • lylee
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 10:57am

      Was this election held in the Soviet Union?

      Report Post »  
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