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DSS Social Workers Rally for Kids

20080624 Erica Cohen & Laurie Winn 2749 In the face of rising caseloads that endanger the abused and at-risk children they are charged with protecting, hundreds of child protection workers from Department of Social Services offices across the state, including a highly spirited group of 40 in Arlington (right), rallied at lunchtime on June 24 to call for funding for additional social workers.

“How many more tragedies do we need before DSS gets the funding and resources it needs to keep kids safe?", asks Peter MacKinnon, a social work supervisor in Lowell.

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State agrees to boost mileage reimbursement

Positive movement at state worker bargaining

The Commonwealth agreed this week to increase mileage reimbursement to 45¢ per mile effective July 1, 2008, even though contract negotiations are not finished. This means that we can continue our efforts to obtain compensation for work-related driving at the IRS rate, which is currently 50.5¢ per mile.

The Commonwealth also withdrew a problematic proposal concerning ongoing CORI checks, and expressed support for increasing family and medical leave and for the concept of placing “anti-bullying” language into the contract.

The pace of negotiations should pick up over the coming weeks.

Local 509 Calls for Investigation at DoE

EDCO Workers Threatened by Vendor Switch

Michael Grunko, President of SEIU Local 509, has sent a letter to to Secretary of Education Paul Reville "to request an immediate investigation into the management and contracting practices at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education."

Read President Grunko's letter to Paul Reville.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at DoR Worcester

Nineteen DoR workers from Worcester were treated for carbon monoxide on Thursday, May 29, and the building, which also includes a DMR office, was evacuated. The immediate issue has been addressed and the offices reopened. SEIU 509 is working with the state to arrive at a satisfactory long-term solution to the issue of poor quality worksites for our members.

Read the article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reporting on the incident, including interviews with Local 509 President Michael Grunko and several members of our DoR chapter.

Read a follow-up article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, covering the state's response to the incident.

OVERWHELMING VOTE FOR QUALITY HUMAN SERVICES 92% VOTE YES!

Marianne Tacas, who works at both LifeLinks and Fidelity House, signs off on the LifeLinks vote count: 88 in favor of authorizing a strike, NONE opposed. 123 Fidelity House members also voted unanimously to authorize a strike if necessary.

SEIU Local 509 members at every one of the 15 agencies voting demonstrated our commitment to quality services and quality jobs with very strong majorities in favor of authorizing a one-day strike if necessary.

Read the latest update on the “Campaign for Quality Human Services.”