California Labor Leader Championing Wealth Tax Faces Harassment and Assault Allegations

A high-profile California labor official behind an ambitious proposal to tax the state's wealthiest residents has been accused of subjecting female colleagues to severe harassment, aggressive intimidation, and historical physical abuse. The accusations center on Dave Regan, the long-serving president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, who has spearheaded a contentious political campaign to levy new taxes on billionaires.

The detailed allegations are documented in an internal investigative report commissioned by SEIU California, a major statewide labor federation affiliated with Regan's local union. Initially reported by the Los Angeles Times and subsequently obtained by The Associated Press, the inquiry draws on accounts from current and former labor officials who claim Regan routinely deployed coercive tactics to force institutional backing for his political agenda.

At the center of the political storm is Proposition 40, a high-stakes ballot initiative slated for the upcoming November election. The measure would establish a one-time 5% tax on California's billionaire class, directing the generated revenue toward low-income healthcare programs that face reductions in federal support. The controversial initiative has opened a deep divide among California Democrats and fractured traditional alliances across the state's organized labor landscape.

While Regan's healthcare union strongly champions the ballot measure, the overarching SEIU California organization has notably withheld its endorsement. According to the investigative findings, this disagreement over political strategy fueled intense confrontations, during which Regan allegedly sought to intimidate fellow labor figures into falling in line behind the initiative.

Among the most prominent accounts in the report is that of Tia Orr, the executive director of SEIU California. Orr informed investigators that Regan confronted her in December, delivering an ultimatum demanding the statewide union endorse the billionaire tax initiative by January 1. During that exchange, Regan allegedly warned Orr that he was "coming for" her if the support was not delivered.

Orr reported to union members that the confrontation left her fearing for her personal safety. As she evaluated the situation, she became aware of several other instances in which Regan was alleged to have berated, harassed, and verbally targeted female union personnel and organizational leaders over professional disagreements.

In response to the investigative findings, SEIU California escalated the matter by filing formal internal charges against Regan with the parent SEIU International Union. The formal complaint accuses the healthcare local president of engaging in an ongoing pattern of extortionate behavior, threats, and pervasive workplace bullying.

Beyond recent political friction, the investigative document outlines a serious physical encounter dating back more than 15 years. Courtni Pugh, who previously served as executive director of the statewide union before stepping down in 2009, recounted a violent episode during an internal political dispute. Pugh told investigators that Regan yelled at her, kicked in her office door, shouted profanities, and physically cornered her against a bookcase while claiming she lacked the toughness needed for her leadership post.

Pugh condemned Regan's subsequent dismissals of the investigation, describing his defense as deeply offensive to the women who have experienced his threatening demeanor. She stated that she had disclosed the confrontation to colleagues at the time it occurred and decided to contribute to the recent inquiry to protect current staff members from enduring comparable abuse.

Addressing the controversy during a news conference, Regan acknowledged that he had used crude language and expletives in his discussions with other labor leaders over the years. However, he forcefully rejected the claim of physical assault, characterizing the most severe allegations as total fabrications that he refused to accept.

Regan maintained that while he is willing to accept full responsibility for his actual words and actions, he would not concede to false characterizations of his conduct. He insisted that the workplace tensions stemmed from robust political disagreements rather than abusive misconduct.

Leadership at SEIU-UHW defended their president by questioning the timing and motives behind the release of the report, which was finalized in June. The local union alleged that wealthy opponents of Proposition 40 orchestrated the disclosure to discredit Regan and undermine the ballot initiative's momentum ahead of the November vote.

In a public statement, SEIU-UHW asserted that opponents were manipulating the situation to protect corporate and billionaire interests at the expense of funding for healthcare services. The local union argued that decades-old interpersonal disputes were being selectively extracted and stripped of necessary context to fabricate a damaging narrative against its leadership.

SEIU-UHW also cast doubt on Pugh's credibility, labeling her testimony an exaggerated complaint from 17 years ago. The local emphasized that the political consulting firm where Pugh is currently employed has represented organizations that actively oppose the passage of Proposition 40.

Conversely, SEIU California leaders defended the legitimacy of the investigation, stating that their actions were rooted in an obligation to maintain safe, fair, and equitable workplace environments. The federation stated that labor organizations cannot credibly demand that rank-and-file workers resist abuse on the job if leadership fails to confront alleged intimidation within its own operational ranks.