( CNN ) -- The powerful Service Employees International Union has decided that , because of the $ 700 billion financial-system bailout , it wants to organize bank workers . Banks that get taxpayer money need to `` ensure their workers have a voice , '' a union spokeswoman says . In an e-mail dated November 12 and obtained exclusively by CNN , a member of SEIU 's Private Equity Project outlined initial discussions to organize bank workers `` since the banking industry is now being infused with billions of taxpayer dollars . '' The e-mail was written by SEIU 's Inga Skippings to the director of the Washington office of the Association of Community Organizing for Reform Now ( ACORN ) , a longtime ally and partner of the union . `` We need to get a handle on who these workers are , working conditions , etc. , '' Skippings wrote . `` Do you have ACORN members who work for banks or Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae ? Is there anyway [ sic ] you could check ? The banks we 're most concerned about are : . -- Fannie Mae -- Freddie Mac -- Chevy Chase/B.F.Saul -- BB & T -- SunTrust -- Bank of America/Countrywide -- Wachovia/Wells Fargo -- PNC Bank/National City -- Citigroup . `` Please let me know and if you have other suggestions , I 'd love to hear them . '' Skippings referred questions to a union spokeswoman , who confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail and that the union is considering targeting the banks for unionizing . `` We believe there is special responsibility for companies who receive taxpayer dollars to ensure their workers have a voice on the job , '' SEIU 's Lynda Tran said . `` And those workers should have a seat at the table at the companies where decisions that impact the future of their families and the companies that employ them '' are made . `` We are talking to workers really broadly in banking , '' she said . SEIU is the fastest-growing trade union in North America , according to its own Web site , with a membership of more than 2 million , including health-care industry workers and state and local government employees . It also represents guards and janitors who work in commercial and residential properties . And its clout continues to grow . SEIU 's $ 85 million in political donations made it the single-largest contributor to either party in the recent elections . The union worked vigorously for the election of Barack Obama , who has named a former union official as his White House political director , a post once held in the Bush administration by Karl Rove . The official , Patrick Gaspard , formerly was executive vice president of politics and legislation for Local 1199 , the SEIU 's United Healthcare Workers East . SEIU , which broke away from the AFL-CIO in 2005 , is known for its successful but sometimes controversial tactics : It often targets private equity groups ' leaders , as well as banks and companies , with loud and demonstrative rallies . The union 's hierarchy has made no secret it hopes to grow under the incoming Democratic administration . `` I would say that we 've been very vocal about the optimism about the new administration , '' SEIU 's Tran said . `` There are a number of newly elected members of Congress who agree with us on matters relating to working families . '' One labor professor said SEIU 's timing in trying to unionize bank workers may be on target `` because financial institutions are at a moment of weakness . '' `` Low-wage earners are the growing sector of the work force , '' said Gregory DeFreitas , an economics professor at Hofstra University and director of its labor studies program . `` This is a very shrewd political move to tie this to the bailouts . '' DeFreitas said unions tend not to do well in attracting workers during economic recessions because jobs are scarce then . But he said recent surveys indicate a majority of workers would consider organizing , so the public 's appetite for unions may be on the upswing . `` Bank teller jobs are one of the few jobs that are actually growing , '' DeFreitas said . `` And they are low-wage earners , so it makes sense that it fits into the SEIU model . SEIU has been very opportunistic in growing its membership . Success breeds success . '' The median annual earnings of bank tellers was about $ 22,000 in May 2006 , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . A spokesman for the American Bankers Association said it had no one who could comment on labor issues . He said the association represents 95 percent of the industry 's $ 13.6 trillion in assets .
Union says it is considering targeting banks for unionizing . E - mail from union lists the banks it 's ` ` most concerned '' about . E - mail cites $ 700 billion financial - system bailout as cause for concern . Spokeswoman : Bailed - out banks have failed to ensure workers have voice .