SEIU 1199 Upstate and Downstate May Merge

By Elizabeth Christensen

Albany, NY – The upstate and downstate chapters of one of the state's most powerful labor unions may merge.

Hospital and nursing home workers represented by the Service Employees International Union, 1199 Upstate, may merge with it's downstate counterpart.

Both unions were instrumental in helping Governor Pataki be reelected to his second and third terms.

Union leaders say the merger is a logical step since the two factions work together on collective bargaining agreements.

If the merger is approved by members today, the new 1199 would be the state's largest and most powerful union.