Union Leadership

Becky Williams
President

Becky Williams is the president of Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents more than 35,000 health care, social service and public sector workers across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. District 1199 is a part of the Service Employees International Union, whose 2 million members make it the largest union of health care workers and the fastest growing union in the world.

As both a labor leader and an advocate for working families, Williams is a leading voice for practical solutions to achieve economic opportunity and justice for workers; to ensure affordable, quality health care for all; to promote quality public services; and to guarantee the rights of workers to organize. To that end, Williams has spearheaded bold new partnerships with community allies, employers, and other worker organizations, and she has worked to elect officials that share the same values as the Union.

Called "the difference in the 2008 elections" and the "most powerful" leader in Ohio politics, Williams began working as a Union leader 18 years ago, during which she served 10 years as Director of the Long Term Care Division before her election as president of District 1199 in 2008. To ensure that all District 1199 members have a voice in state, local and municipal government, Williams is actively involved in politics throughout the Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky regions.

Williams represents the interests of workers as a member of Governor Ted Strickland's Ohio Health Care Coverage & Quality Council and a member of the Ohio Healthcare Trust Board of Directors. She also serves as a national leader on the SEIU International Executive Board (IEB) and is a member of IEB Health Care Council, the Midwest Area Leadership Council, and the International Member Strength Committee. In Ohio, Williams is a member of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and National Organization for Women (NOW).

Lisa Hetrick
Secretary Treasurer

Lisa Hetrick is the Secretary Treasurer of Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents more than 35,000 health care, social service, and public sector workers across Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. District 1199 is a part of the Service Employees International Union, whose 2 million members make it the largest union of health care workers and the fastest growing union in the world.

Twenty years ago, Hetrick was offered a position at SEIU as an Administrative Organizer for northwest Ohio. Prior to working for SEIU, Hetrick was a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at a psychiatric hospital in Toledo, OH. Her union efforts began early when Hetrick and co-workers organized and eventually bargained a contract with their employer. The workers were able to secure economic benefits as well as safety issues in the contract. Ever since, Hetrick has become both a leader and advocate for making workers' lives better.

After several years as an Administrative Organizer, Hetrick became the State Team Director of over 4,000 health care and social service workers. As State Team Director, she facilitated relationships between the union and the agencies in order to promote a productive labor-management environment. Hetrick was responsible for bargaining contracts with the State to improve the lives of the workers, as well as the lives of their clients.

In 1999, Hetrick was elected to Vice President, where she oversaw bargaining District-wide. She then moved on to direct the public division before becoming Secretary Treasurer in 2005. Hetrick currently aids in collective bargaining throughout the District, and with her fellow officers, drives the mission of the Union.

Hetrick also holds the position of Treasurer of the Union Benefit Trust where she is member of the board that administrates dental, vision, and other benefit programs for State workers. She is a member of a stakeholders group that observes the Public Retirement System (PRS) board, a trustee on the international health and welfare fund, and a member of the public division board for the International union as well. Hetrick has worked diligently to facilitate the mergers of SEIU locals in Ohio, District 925, Local 627, and Local 47, in order to become one powerful union.

Hetrick and her husband Rick have been married for 27 years and are proud parents of son Ryan.

Al Bacon
Senior Executive Vice President

Al Bacon is the Senior Executive Vice President and Public Division Director of Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents more than 35,000 health care, social service, and public sector workers across Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. District 1199 is a part of the Service Employees International Union, whose 2 million members make it the largest union of health care workers and the fastest growing union in the world.

More than 23 years ago, Bacon's desire to help the working class became evident when a disabled janitor's application for Social Security and benefits was denied. Bacon was working at the same place as the janitor and offered to help file an appeal. Former President Tom Woodruff recognized Bacon's potential and offered him a job at the union as an organizer for the state hospitals in West Virginia.

At that time, the hospitals had no collective bargaining rights and only 200 members in seven or eight of the hospitals across the state of West Virginia. By educating workers about the union, Bacon increased the membership from 200 to 400. Bacon then helped the state hospital workers fight to gain recognition of the union as well as a grievance process. As a result of Bacon's natural ability to educate others, he continued teaching workers how to organize as well as training members in all aspects of the union.

After gaining experience in all areas of the union, Bacon became the Education Director in 1994. In order to build stronger chapters, Bacon would get to know the members and then educate them on being successful in various areas of the union. While teaching members and staff, Bacon would fulfill any role necessary to work through a crisis.

In 2005, Bacon was elected as Senior Executive Vice President of the union. He currently oversees the general coordination of divisions across the union as well as the integration of all members. Bacon is a member of the AARP and sits on the division leadership board at the International level and was recently appointed to the State of Ohio Workforce Policy Advisory Board by Governor Ted Strickland.

Bacon and his wife Nancy have been married for 30 years and are proud parents of two, grandparents of six, and great-grandparents of two.

Kathy McCormick
Executive Vice President

Kathy McCormick is the Executive Vice President and Long Term Care Division Director of Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents more than 35,000 health care, social service, and public sector workers across Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. District 1199 is a part of the Service Employees International Union, whose 2 million members make it the largest union of health care workers and the fastest growing union in the world.

McCormick was working in a nursing home when the opportunity to organize with co-workers became relevant. Once she was educated about the union, McCormick strongly believed in their mission of making the world a better place for workers, their families, and the residents.

McCormick began working for the union in February 1993 as a Member Organizer before becoming a Field Organizer, where she focused on organizing workers in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. She then became an Administrative Organizer in Kentucky in 1994, where her role shifted from helping members join the union to representing union members. In 1995 McCormick coordinated several large campaigns in West Virginia and Kentucky, including a campaign helping American Red Cross workers. McCormick then became the Organizing Director of the entire local, where she once again concentrated on growth of the union.

In early 2008, McCormick became the Division Director for Long Term Care, the largest division in the union. Later that year, McCormick was elected to Executive Vice President (EVP). As EVP, McCormick holds the employer accountable for treating union members in a fair and just way. McCormick leads by example and fills any role necessary to make sure needs of the workers and the people they serve are fulfilled. In 2009, McCormick had a huge victory when she helped bargain the first contract for 7,000 independent home care providers.

McCormick is a member of the NAACP in West Virginia and Kentucky and a member of NOW in Kentucky. For two years, she sat on the Kentucky Women's Commission, which focuses on making sure women receive the same rights as men. In 2004, McCormick was awarded the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel, which is presented to individuals by the governor for their outstanding work in the state of Kentucky.

McCormick has been married for over three decades and is the proud parent of four and grandparent of nine.