Set against the backdrop of a long and bitter struggle between members of SEIU United Health Care Workers West (UHW) and its parent union, UHW filed a lawsuit last week charging violations of free speech rights. The lawsuit, directed at SEIU President Andy Stern and Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, points out that the move to place UHW-W in trusteeship will break up UHW and ultimately take away the local's autonomy. The International has also taken to punishing the local’s leadership for criticizing a series of deals they say Stern has cut with giant healthcare corporations. Discussing this battle are two rank and file leaders from SEIU United Healthcare Workers West: Nancy Stengel, who led the recent takeover of the SEIU Oakland regional office by 60+ SEIU members, and Michael Rivera, an elected rank-and-file executive board member, who stands to be removed by the proposed trusteeship and is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.