Dave Regan faces allegations of bullying and extortion while pushing for California's billionaire tax

Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, is facing multiple allegations of bullying, intimidation, and attempted extortion as he campaigns for Proposition 40, a proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires. An internal investigation by the law firm Cohen, Weiss and Simon partially substantiated claims that Regan violated the SEIU Constitution by threatening and defaming union leaders to secure endorsements for the measure. Specifically, the investigation found that Regan attempted to extort an endorsement from the SEIU State Council by suggesting he could trigger a federal Department of Labor investigation. He also allegedly bullied and defamed Tia Orr, the SEIU executive director, for her lack of support for the tax. Separate inquiries also substantiated claims of physical intimidation. In 2009, Regan allegedly assaulted former union leader Courtni Pugh by kicking open her office door and

Sources

• San Francisco Chronicle
  Union boss behind billionaire tax bullied, tried to ‘extort’ staffers over the measure, reports find
• New York Post
  California’s most powerful union boss threatened women, tried to ‘extort’ billionaire tax support: probe
• Yahoo
  Union boss behind billionaire tax bullied, tried to ‘extort' staffers over the measure, reports find

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• Los Angeles Times
  Architect of billionaire tax tried to 'extort' support for the measure and targeted women, union reports find
• Politico
  California wealth tax proponent threatened labor officials, law firm’s report finds