The House Education and Workforce Committee, under the leadership of Republican Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, has launched an inquiry into the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) hiring practices.
The investigation was sparked by the revelation that the SEIU's San Francisco chapter had employed a convicted child molester, Noelia Linares, as a business agent. The committee is seeking to understand how such a decision was made, given the vulnerable populations many SEIU workers serve, and whether reforms to the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) are necessary.
As reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation, the committee's probe was initiated following the arrest of a local SEIU leader, which ignited days of anti-deportation riots in Los Angeles. This incident brought national attention to the union and its practices. The Daily Caller News Foundation had previously reported on Linares, who was charged in 2017 with sex crimes related to her behavior with four alleged victims at a high school where she was a teaching assistant.
Linares pleaded no contest in 2018 to sexually penetrating a minor with a foreign object and child molesting, while six other charges were dropped.
The SEIU's San Francisco chapter hired Linares in October 2022, less than two years after her probation ended. The union, along with Linares, has not responded to requests for comment. The committee is now demanding that the SEIU disclose how many of its employees are registered sex offenders and how the union decides whether to hire such individuals.
The LMRDA currently prohibits individuals convicted of certain crimes, such as rape, from working at unions. Walberg, in his letter to SEIU President April Verrett, noted that the committee is investigating whether the LMRDA should be amended to include registered sex offenders among those prohibited from holding office in a labor union.
The SEIU, which proudly represents more than 1 million local and state government workers, public school employees, bus drivers, and child care providers, has been criticized for its hiring decision. Walberg emphasized that the union's decision to hire Linares should be a matter of deep concern to the millions of workers that SEIU represents, including more than 60 million patients in hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, and in-home care settings.
The committee's investigation also extends to the union's leadership and their hiring practices. Walberg stressed that these practices are important to the committee as they relate to the integrity of a union and set an example for their dues-paying members.
Department of Labor records show that Linares' gross salary has increased each year since she started at the SEIU, with earnings of $66,672 in 2024. The SEIU, known for its support of Democratic electoral candidates and its focus on helping migrant workers avoid deportation, has been under scrutiny for its practices.
The union was instrumental in organizing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the arrest of SEIU California leader David Huerta during ICE raids in the city. The protests escalated into rioting and arrests that lasted for a week.
The committee's investigation into the SEIU's hiring practices underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of unions and ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations they serve. The outcome of this investigation could potentially lead to significant reforms in labor laws and union hiring practices.
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