California Labor Leader Backing Billionaire Tax Faces Accusations of Harassment and Intimidation

A prominent California labor official who is spearheading a high-profile ballot measure to tax the state's wealthiest residents has been accused of sustained harassment, intimidation, and threatening behavior toward female colleagues in an affiliated labor organization.

The allegations center on Dave Regan, the president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, and are outlined in an investigative document commissioned by SEIU California. The comprehensive inquiry, which was completed in June and reviewed by news outlets following initial reporting by the Los Angeles Times, relies on testimonies from current and past labor members detailing aggressive behavior aimed at securing support for an upcoming ballot initiative.

According to the investigative findings, Regan engaged in an ongoing pattern of bullying, extortion, and hostility. SEIU California has subsequently lodged formal internal charges against him through the SEIU International Union, seeking accountability for conduct that labor officials argue violates the core workplace standards of the organization.

The controversy surrounds Proposition 40, a November ballot measure championed by Regan that would impose a one-time 5% tax on California billionaires. Revenue generated from the initiative is intended to offset recent reductions in federal funding for healthcare programs that serve low-income residents across the state.

While tax initiatives targeting ultra-wealthy individuals often find unanimous backing among progressive groups, Proposition 40 has created notable friction within California’s labor movement and the broader Democratic establishment. SEIU-UHW has aggressively pushed the initiative, but SEIU California, the larger statewide umbrella body, has notably withheld its endorsement.

Investigative records detail a specific confrontation between Regan and SEIU California Executive Director Tia Orr in December. Regan allegedly issued an ultimatum demanding that the statewide organization formally endorse the billionaire tax initiative before January 1, warning Orr that he would "come for" her if the group failed to comply.

Following that interaction, Orr reported feeling genuinely unsafe in her professional role. Her experience prompted discussions among union leadership, bringing to light additional grievances from other female executives and staff members who described enduring verbal tirades, intimidation, and berating behavior from Regan.

The report also documents historical claims of physical aggression involving Courtni Pugh, who served as executive director of SEIU California prior to stepping down in 2009. Pugh recounted to investigators an explosive political dispute during which Regan allegedly kicked in her office door, screamed profanities, pinned her against a bookcase, and claimed she was not tough enough for her leadership position.

Pugh explained that she chose to give testimony to the independent investigators because she believed Regan's pattern of abusive conduct had persisted unchecked across multiple decades. She noted that she had alerted fellow union colleagues immediately following the confrontation years ago, emphasizing that her participation in the current inquiry was aimed at preventing other women from facing similar mistreatment.

Addressing the controversy publicly, Regan held a news conference where he acknowledged employing profanity and harsh language when speaking with fellow union officials during intense political discussions. However, he strongly rejected the claim that he had ever engaged in physical violence, characterizing the physical assault accusation as an outright fabrication.

In his public remarks, Regan stated that he was prepared to accept responsibility for his actual words and actions over the years. At the same time, he maintained that he would not passively accept what he termed complete falsehoods regarding physical altercations.

Meanwhile, representatives for SEIU-UHW mounted a fierce defense of Regan, asserting that political adversaries opposing Proposition 40 engineered the release of the June investigative report to undermine the tax measure ahead of the November election. The union argued that wealthy corporate interests were attempting to manipulate internal union matters to protect their own fortunes from taxation.

SEIU-UHW dismissed Pugh's account as an exaggerated allegation stemming from an incident that occurred roughly 17 years ago. The union pointed out that the political consulting agency where Pugh is presently employed has worked alongside campaigns seeking to defeat Proposition 40, suggesting her claims were politically motivated. Pugh did not immediately address questions concerning her firm’s specific ties to opposition campaigns, but she dismissed the union's defense as disrespectful toward individuals who experienced Regan's hostility.

SEIU California defended its decision to pursue formal charges and conduct the inquiry, stating that the organization must hold its leaders to the highest standards of dignity, equity, and workplace safety. Leaders from the organization emphasized that union members are routinely encouraged to stand up against powerful figures who abuse their authority, making it imperative for the labor federation to address internal misconduct decisively.