Delta Workers vote YES

Delta Projects workers vote YES to form a union!

On March 9th, the workers at Delta Projects voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU 509. Delta Projects employees voted to join our union dispite experiencing intimidation and fear of retaliation on the job. Unfortunately Diane Iagulli (Director of Delta Projects) spent thousands of dollars try to intimidate the Delta Projects Staff. Many unfair labor practices charges are pending before the National Labor and Relations Board.

Delta Projects serves persons with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities within adult residential, adult transitional housing, adult employment supports and children’s after school and respite programs.

SEIU 509 welcomes the Delta Workers and congratulates them on their victory!

Delta Workers Meet with Governor Patrick

On February 24th, Governor Deval Patrick meet with Delta Project employees to discuss the intimidation and fear of retaliation they are experiencing on the job. After hearing their first hand accounts, Governor Patrick reaffirmed his commitment to ask the Secretary of Workforce and Labor Development to look into these allegations.

Earlier this week, Governor Patrick was quoted saying "I am very concerned by what I'm hearing is happening at Delta. All workers have the right to organize free from fear and intimidation. I look forward to hearing what is happening personally from the workers at Delta on Wednesday. I've assigned my Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development to look into this matter."

Delta Project's employees are now voting by mail in ballot to try and win a union to represent them at their workplace. The vote count will take place on March 9, 2010 at the National Labor and Relations Commission in Boston.


 

MSPCC Workers Gain $73,000 via Union Settlement

This week the union reached agreement with MSPCC, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, on back pay and raises for 15 western Massachusetts workers who were underpaid state salary reserve funds.  The workers and the union were persistent in stating the case that state salary reserve money was wrongly denied to them.  According to Carmen Batista-Torres,   “The union got our agency to follow the rules on how state money should  be spent, we couldn’t be happier; There is power in the union.”  Special thanks should go to Brian Wilder, the field representative who doggedly pursued the case, and members who never gave up. 2/12/2010

 

 

SEIU National Organizing Corps

 

25 Local 509 and Local 888 members came together on Saturday for an  
exciting new organizing training as part of the SEIU National  
Organizing Corps (NOC).  Members are coming together to build a strong  team of volunteer member organizers.  
The next meeting of the Local  509 Organizing Committee is Thursday, January 21 at 5:30 pm at the SEIU 509 Watertown office. If you are interested in joining, please contact Erin Shackelford at ext 558.