Leaders

Marge Faville, RN

President, SEIU Healthcare Michigan

As the President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan – the state’s largest union of healthcare workers, Marge Faville has made it her mission to ensure that all workers who care for others are heard and recognized for the vital work they do.

She first became a member of SEIU while working at Hackley Hospital as a Unit Secretary 25 years ago. Faville moved on to Mercy Hospital where she served the Muskegon community for 15 years. It was there, while working full time, Faville discovered her love of nursing and decided to return to college to receive her Registered Nurse Degree.

As an RN in the Critical Care Open Heart Unit, she was known for being a strong advocate for quality care and sought a position where she could help fellow nurses as well as their patients. She became a steward, then a bargaining team member and eventually the chief steward. With a desire to help people on a larger scale, she became a member of the Local 79 Executive Board and the Hospital Division Director before being elected Secretary-Treasurer in 2002.


Appointed by Governor Granholm, Faville has served as a member of the Michigan Occupational Health Standards Commission since 2005. She has also served as a board member for the United Way of the West Shore, where she is also a member of the allocation committee. She is a member of both the National Nurse Alliance Leadership Board and the healthcare division leadership board. Faville has held numerous other positions throughout the state including Vice President and President of West Michigan Labor Council and currently serves on the board of the Muskegon Area Labor Management Committee.

Johnnie Jolliffi

Secretary-Treasurer

 “I became a healthcare worker over 25 years ago because I have always loved to help people. It was when I found a job at a Union nursing home that I learned I could help my co-workers at the same time I was helping my residents. I started my union journey at local 79 where I became a worksite leader helping to organize Middlebelt Nursing Home. Organizing has always been a passion of mine. Working long and hard hours is part of the job, but that has only increased my passion for it. Throughout the years I have worked on the organizing team, as a business agent, and even Nursing Division Director. There’s nothing like seeing people’s confidence grow when they know that they have the support of their Union brothers and sisters behind them.”

“I’ve worked in nursing homes and in home care, and I’ve served at the bedside and at the bargaining table. I have worked all over the state of Michigan negotiating contract language, and I feel that I can offer advice in all departments. Above all else: Using my experience and my problem solving skills to engage members. My priority for the coming term is to support our members and instill in them the sense of pride that I have for SEIU, as we work to improve the lives of healthcare workers and patients in Michigan.”

“This local has a rich history of organizing workers and winning victories. I’m still inspired by the Dignity, Rights & Respect campaign I was involved with in the late 1980s with SEIU. As far as the mission of SEIU Healthcare Michigan, I would like to continue organizing the unorganized and inspiring our members to take ownership of their union.  In the next ten years, I see the union having a  Member Resource Center that meets the 24 hour needs of our 24 hour membership. I want to see members totally involved with the day to day operations of the union. Our members can take an active role in our current programs and assist in developing new ones. By bringing all members together under one roof and having them work on the same project we can create one unified membership.”