With the upcoming contract vote scheduled for Thursday Sept 15, members of the DOR Chapter negotiating team will be out visiting the DOR offices to answer your questions. Due to illness, I may not be able to make some of these meetings, but I am very pleased that Derek Goodwin and Chris Landry, two members of the bargaining team, have volunteered to assist by visiting some offices.
I hope by now that members understand that the State did not take away something but offered something that we saw as having much more value to our members. After all, that is what negotiating is all about: Trying to come out with the best deal possible for your side. Instead of a one time payment, we have been able to significantly add to base salaries over the two year extension. We were also able to convert outgoing holidays into personal days for those currently employed.
Ultimately, approving or rejecting the proposed contract extension is up to you, the membership. We have tried to bring to you what we believe is the best deal possible.
A YES vote assures us what is on the table now.
A NO vote has no guarantees except a return to the bargaining table.
At this time I do not see the possibility of doing better; therefore, I urge a YES vote.
SEIU Local 509 members Jill Homer and Scott Bezzini were quoted in a New York Times article about the state of the mental health system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: A Schizophrenic, a Slain Worker, Troubling Questions
This unnerves many mental health professionals. Not only do they believe that there are already far too few beds for new cases — “It’s harder to get into a state hospital than into Harvard Medical School,” Dr. Duckworth said — but they also worry about discharging long-institutionalized patients into communities whose resources are clearly strained.
“It’s sort of a cross your fingers and pray approach,” said Scott Bezzini, a mental health outreach worker who is on leave to work for his union.
…
For those in the community, the department has shifted in recent years from a model of care that sees serious mental illness as a long-term disability to a “recovery” model, which seeks to move clients into increasingly less restrictive, less supervised and less costly living situations.
“It’s all about getting people discharged as opposed to getting them treatment,” said Jill Homer, a state-employed case manager for three decades, who nonetheless feels that the system has “fumbled through” its downsizing fairly well.
Special thanks go to Toby Fisher from SEIU, also quoted in the article, who worked hard to coordinate our input on the article and wrote a follow up on Supporting People, Supporting Communities
Congratulations to Lauren Connolly of our CSB unit who was elected to our vacant JEB seat. I am sure Lauren will bring prospective and energy to the job.
Thank you to recently retired Jack Martin for his years of service to the DOR Chapter Board . Jack was always willing to fight the good fight. Even though he has resigned from the CB Jack will be continuing to lend his expertise to the Union.
Due to the retirement of Gardner Chace and Jack Martin and election of Lauren to the JEB we now have three vacancies on the Chapter Board. If you have a desire to become active in the Union or would like more info on the duties of a CB member please contact me. The Union News should contain specifics on the nomination process.
We have filed a grievance in regard to new workers being hired in the Brockton office prior to existing employees on the transfer list being given the opportunity to fill these positions. For some reason our agency is the only one who consistently tries to ignore this section of the contract. I do expect positive results from this filing. If this or any other type of violation happens in your office be sure a grievance is filed.
The State and Unions have met on a two year contract extension which looks like a positive for both sides. We should be out visiting the offices shortly to explain it fully. Look for a vote in September.
Thank you to Field Rep Jeff Knopf and Attorney Kevin Preston who held training for our western Stewards at the 509 Holyoke office. The training was beneficial to all who attended and I have requested that it be scheduled soon in the Watertown office.
Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.
