We resumed today with the cross examination of Myriam Escamilla, who heads up our union’s Nursing Home Division, by defense attorney Dan Siegel. Mr. Siegel did his best to confuse her. She stood her ground.
Myriam’s testimony and a document trail showed that secret meetings were held beginning in 2007, and there were two tracks they were on:
- One was work to with coalition and the press to get their support behind Sal Rosselli and the fight against SEIU.
- Two was to make sure they were able financially fight against trusteeship.
This group of top leaders had orders from Rosselli and Vellardita that these meeting were to be kept secret.
Jennifer Castro, AA for the Home Care Division in Oakland, told about Steward Council meetings which also had activists invited. She explained how members were asked to fill out yellow cards so defendants could create lists of leaders and activists. She spoke about “mega-meetings” where staff were told to turn out hundreds of people.
A video was showed of Elizabeth Ortiz at the Sacramento “mega-meeting” telling members to get the yellow cards filled out. She was having it told in every language. Ms. Castro stated that she had left the Sacramento event when she received a call from Ortiz telling her to bring the cards back and give them to Marti Garza. She never saw the cards again, and she was told by Ortiz that she and Garza would be entering it into the union data base. Ms. Castro said the information was never entered.
Mr. Leon Chow, who is a director in the UHW Homecare Division, started his testimony today shortly before the end of court today.
Today was a very solemn day. I hope to have a better spirit in writing to you tomorrow. Please give me your feedback.
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