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In 2000, we had about 20,000 SEIU members who signed up and volunteered to make phone calls, knock on doors, drop literature. We had very few leave their homes [to campaign] in 2000. We just assigned some of our staff. This is the first time we asked rank-and-file members and paid them for the time away from their job to participate full time around electoral activity. That was a big change. We call them the SEIU heroes.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO CHINA?
Yes, several times. We are spending time with Chinese unions so they won't adopt a U.S. model with the attitude of "I've got mine, and the devil take the hindmost." The idea that the rich get richer and somehow wealth is going to trickle down is a bankrupt economic and moral theory.
ADRIEN BRODY PLAYED A CHARISMATIC SEIU ORGANIZER WHO WINS THE HEART OF A BEAUTIFUL LATINA JANITOR IN THE MOVIE BREAD AND ROSES. WAS THAT YOU?
No. I get credit for a lot of things I shouldn't. That was another SEIU organizer named Jono Shaffer.