Considered one of California’s greatest healthcare unions defied Gov. Gavin Newsom by inserting a billionaire tax on the poll this fall, arguing the wealthy must pay an even bigger share to offset federal cuts to hospitals and emergency rooms — however data present the labor group isn’t precisely exhausting up for money.
The Put up’s assessment of federal data discovered that officers for Service Staff Worldwide Union-United Healthcare Employees West burned hundreds of thousands on an out-of-state political effort in addition to dues on journey, conferences and beachfront retreats — all whereas paying almost $235,000 to a “readability coach” who appeared in a collection of low-budget mindfulness movies on Instagram.
SEIU-UHW has emerged because the driving pressure behind a November poll initiative that will impose a one-time tax on billionaires to assist hospitals and emergency rooms climate President Trump’s cuts to Medicaid funding.
However the union’s newest monetary disclosures — filed with the U.S. Division of Labor — supply a glimpse into how its personal members’ dues have been spent final yr, together with conferences and retreats in Puerto Rico, Redondo Seaside and San Diego.
Among the many largest consulting bills was $234,804 paid to Dr. Joi Okay. Madison by means of 14 separate transactions in 2025. The submitting identifies each fee merely as compensation for an “impartial contractor,” with out describing the work carried out.
Madison, who holds doctoral and grasp’s levels, has appeared in a collection of quick “Conscious Minute” movies posted to the union’s Instagram account, typically racking up as many as a couple of dozen likes. A number of movies seem to have been filmed throughout the identical recording session, with Madison sporting the identical outfit in clips launched days or perhaps weeks aside.
In a single video, Madison — who didn’t reply to requests for remark — urges healthcare staff to pause, breathe and “really feel the ground” beneath them. Different clips information viewers by means of gratitude workouts, respiration strategies and meditation supposed to scale back stress.
“After all of the money and time the SEIU spent selling ‘tax the wealthy’ insurance policies, it’s good to see union leaders rewarding themselves with Goop-style respiration lessons,” stated Charlyce Bozzello, communications director for the Middle for Union Information, a watchdog group that scrutinizes organized labor spending.
“It have to be exhausting work spending members’ dues on luxurious lodge stays and meditation lessons.”
SEIU-UHW rejected that characterization, saying Madison was retained to offer management improvement, govt teaching and organizational coaching. In the meantime, union officers defended the journeys and retreats as a part of its democratic governance conferences that typically require enter from a whole bunch of voting members.
Information present SEIU-UHW spent $17,634 to ship a 20-person delegation to the nationwide SEIU Latino Caucus convention at Puerto Rico’s Caribe Hilton, a beachfront lodge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
One other $171,612 was spent on a three-day all-staff retreat on the Asilomar Convention Grounds in Pacific Grove, a convention heart tucked amongst Monterey cypress timber and coastal dunes overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Federal data additionally present $80,669 spent on a Hospital Division retreat on the Sonesta Redondo Seaside & Marina overlooking King Harbor and $110,945 for a three-day govt board assembly at San Diego’s City and Nation Resort.
Separate govt board conferences on the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Worldwide Airport and Oakland Marriott Metropolis Middle added one other $1.24 million to the union’s lodge invoice.
Southwest Airways additionally acquired roughly $1.38 million in funds through the yr.
“Let’s be severe: a $109-per-person lodge room isn’t the French Laundry, and Southwest isn’t a non-public jet,” SEIU-UHW communications director Nathan Selzer stated, invoking Gov. Gavin Newsom’s notorious dinner on the Michelin three-star Napa Valley restaurant through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Selzer argued that the conferences mirrored the unusual prices of working a $130 million statewide union representing roughly 120,000 healthcare staff, with many attendees splitting lodge rooms to scale back prices.
In accordance with the union, the Asilomar retreat introduced collectively 316 workers, who shared double-occupancy rooms costing about $109 per individual per evening. The Hospital Division retreat hosted 75 members, whereas the chief board assembly in San Diego drew 414 elected leaders, with bills protecting lodging, meals, assembly area, audiovisual manufacturing and different logistics.
Information present the union has prioritized political spending and lobbying with greater than $12.5 million in bills final yr, whereas “representational actions” like negotiating contracts and dealing situations accounted for greater than $56.5 million. Dave Regan, the president of SEIU-UHW and mastermind behind the billionaire tax, reported whole compensation of greater than $394,000 final yr, based on the federal submitting.
Officers stated the conferences and retreats accounted for lower than 2% of spending.
Nonetheless, the union additionally contributed at the very least $2.75 million final yr to the Equity Mission, a nationwide group that backs poll initiatives, and in a single occasion, the union deserted a signature gathering effort in Arizona after paying greater than $1.8 million to FieldWorks.
The disclosures come as SEIU-UHW pours hundreds of thousands into the California Billionaire Tax Act, arguing the state’s wealthiest residents ought to assist preserve hospitals, trauma facilities and emergency rooms afloat following federal Medicaid cuts.
Newsom has argued billionaires ought to pay extra, however the governor stated on Tuesday that California can not successfully impose its personal wealth tax as a result of rich residents would merely relocate. Billionaires opposing the state wealth tax embrace Chris Larsen, Peter Thiel, Ron Conway and Sergey Brin, the final of whom is organizing a competing poll measure that has raised tens of hundreds of thousands.
“You may’t tax one thing that’s left [the state],” Newsom stated at a information convention, calling a California-only wealth tax “a race to the underside.”
As a substitute, Newsom is looking for federal tax reforms focusing on billionaires, saying the nation’s tax code permits the ultra-wealthy to borrow in opposition to their belongings, go alongside huge fortunes and pay decrease efficient tax charges than many working Individuals.
“I consider there ought to be progressive taxes on the federal stage,” Newsom stated. “I consider what Warren Buffett stated when he stated that he shouldn’t be paying much less taxes than his secretary.”
The rhetoric on each side is sort of sure to ratchet up forward of November’s election.
“The actual extravagance in California is billionaire wealth,” Seltzer stated, “and no quantity of manufactured outrage over healthcare staff touring to do their jobs modifications that.”
