By Chip Rogers, CEO, Americans for Fair Treatment

Americans have long supported the right of workers to come together, advocate for better treatment, and collectively bargain. But what happens when union leaders, entrusted with representing those workers, use their positions for political theater and law-breaking instead of actual advocacy? The recent arrest of SEIU California President David Huerta is not an isolated incident. It is part of a troubling pattern of union leadership putting personal politics above the law and the workers they claim to serve.

Huerta was charged with “conspiracy to impede an officer” during a protest against a lawful federal operation targeting alleged illegal hiring practices. That is a serious charge. Rather than taking responsibility, Huerta portrayed himself as a victim, while SEIU’s top leadership rushed to turn the moment into a rallying cry about immigration. But let’s be clear: this was not a peaceful protest gone wrong. This was a union leader attempting to obstruct a federal investigation.

Unfortunately, this kind of behavior is becoming more common among union leadership. We have seen similar incidents across the country – union bosses threatening public officials, misusing member dues for political purposes, and prioritizing activism over accountability. Rank-and-file workers are right to ask: who are these leaders really fighting for?

SEIU represents hundreds of thousands of essential workers. Their focus should be on improving wages, working conditions, and safety, not interfering in federal law enforcement or fueling divisive political narratives. When union leaders act like activists first and representatives second, it is the workers who lose.

This moment is a wake-up call. America needs unions that are fair, transparent, and focused on results, not organizations that tolerate or even celebrate lawbreaking from the top.