Swearing In Of Officers is Historic Moment SEIU Healthcare Michigan

Marge Faville, RN and Johnnie Jolliffi take Office as President and Secretary-Treasurer

Tonight was a historic moment for the 55,000 working women and men of SEIU Healthcare Michigan as the Officers and Executive Board elected by the membership were sworn in. The ceremony took place at the local's Detroit headquarters, with SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger inducting the Officers and Executive Board into their positions.

The evening was also one of firsts -- the first time two women have lead the local and the first time both the President and the Secretary-Treasurer have come from the membership.

"This evening has been a very emotional one for me," said Marge Faville. "When I first became a member over 25 years ago when I worked at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, I never thought that one day I would be President of the Union. I just saw ways that I could make a difference, it didn't matter if I was a steward or when I was the Hospital Division Director, my main goal has always been to improve the lives of SEIU members. It also does really show something about the progress we have made as a society with two women leading the largest local in Michigan. That would have been unthinkable 20 years ago."

Over 250 members attended tonight's ceremony and celebration with dinner following the swearing in of the officers.

"I have been a member of this local for 7 years and I can truly say that the changes I have seen are positive one,” said Anthony Simmons, a member at Hackley Hosiptal. “Tonight was a night of victories – a victory for members, a victory for those we care for and a victory for all working families.
 
See more pictures of the event here!