SEIU Members to Bank of America: We Deserve A Voice

April 30, 2009

SEIU, MoveOn.org and other community groups collected over 70,000 “Taxpayer Proxy” demands to the Bank of America shareholder meeting calling on it to: fire CEO Ken Lewis; support strong banking reform; eliminate predatory lending practices and unreasonable fees; support the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure workers have a voice to speak out for consumers and improve working conditions; and provide affordable healthcare to bank workers so they are not forced to rely on tax-payer funded public health programs. The Proxy demands will be presented at the Bank of America shareholder meetings in Charlotte, NC.

"The American taxpayers didn't cause this economic crisis but we sure are paying the price," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "We're watching our savings disappear, our debt pile up, and our retirement vanish. Taxpayers have had enough, bank workers have had enough, and it’s past time to hold big banks like Bank of America accountable if we are going to create an economy that works for everyone again."

In Michigan, Local 517M members in Saginaw approached Bank of America customers they entered the drive thru at the Bank of America service center on Michigan Avenue, who were more than willing to sign a proxy form to be heard.