State Workers
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| Contract Details
Collective Bargaining Agreement: January 2017-December 2019 |
Grievance Forms State Grievance Form (EditablePDF*) State Grievance Form (PDF*) |
State Benefits MPEF Vision & Dental Health Plans Retirement Information |
Contacts Find your Advisor or Organizer Full SEIU 509 Directory |
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Union Leadership Opportunities
Below you will find the list of opportunities to serve on the SEIU 509 Unionwide Trustee, Joint Executive Board (JEB) and Chapter Executive Boards (CEBs). If you are interested in running for a seat — or nominating a colleague — please follow these instructions:
- Submit nominations for vacancies in writing to Jenny Bauer by email (jbauer@seiu509.org), fax (508-485-8529), or US mail (293 Boston Post Road West, 4th Floor, Marlborough, MA 01752). When submitting the e-mail, please put “Nomination” in the subject line.
- Nominations will be accepted until Friday, January 18 at NOON. If we receive more than one nomination for a seat, an election will be held.
- Only members in good standing are eligible for nomination. Members may nominate themselves or be nominated by fellow SEIU 509 members. The member doing the nominating also needs to be a member in good standing.
- Vacancies remain posted and completely up to date. Nominations are accepted quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 12 (The Annual Meeting).
When submitting the e-mail, please put “Nomination” in the subject line.
To view the Leadership Vacancies document in full screen, click here.
Nominees who are unopposed shall be declared elected on that date. If offices are contested, election dates will be announced and candidates will be notified.
2019 SEIU 509 Scholarship
The SEIU 509 Scholarship Program funds educational scholarship awards for SEIU 509 union members and their dependents. Dependents are defined as children of members, or children under direct care of the member — such as a grandchild or foster child. These scholarships each range from $1,000 to $1,500.
Program Guidelines
- Each member or dependent must fill out the below SEIU 509 Scholarship application by May 10, 2019.
- To apply for a scholarship for a member or dependent of a member, the member must be considered a “member in good standing” as defined in the SEIU 509 Constitution.
- Dependents of members can be high school seniors or currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at an accredited educational institution.
- Members can be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD program.
- The awards may be paid to the educational institution or student with proof of enrollment.
- No member or dependent may be awarded more than one SEIU 509 scholarship per academic year.
- Some scholarships are specific to members from a specific sector — others are assigned to associate members or officers and stewards.
Winners will be selected at random from the pool of qualified applicants. The drawing will take place May 14, 2019. Some applicants will qualify for activist scholarship awards, by random selection, based on the member’s demonstrated commitment to the growth of SEIU 509 and the Labor Movement during the last calendar year. This could include:
- Helping to organize not-yet-unionized workers into a union.
- Active support of candidates for public office or ballot questions supporting positions endorsed by the members of SEIU 509.
- Encouraging member activism and building strength in their worksite.
25 Years of the Pacheco Law
In commemoration of the Pacheco Law’s 25-year anniversary, this paper commences a larger project built around a careful study of public contracting in an era of privatization. We propose to draw lessons from the Massachusetts experience with the Pacheco Law along with experiences from similar policy initiatives elsewhere to inform a national dialogue on good public management. This is especially critical at a time when the institutions of democratic public service are under severe stress.
Mass Health Chapter Contract Update
Congratulations MassHealth chapter on having the most up-to-date trainees with our union regarding the Janus Supreme Court case!
Right now, The MassHealth chapter leadership is negotiating with management to implement a phone-free and part-time work week schedule for our members.
Also, MassHealth leaders will be holding member meetings at all offices to educate their members about the contract and the upcoming Supreme Court decision.
Plus, steward elections are coming up this month!
If you have any questions, contact Mass Health Chapter President Carol Butler.
Thank you for a successful 2018 Lobby Day!
On April 11th, SEIU 509 members successfully lobbied at the State House for legislation and budget items that affect our specific chapters, as well as broader issues affecting the working people of Massachusetts. Specifically, we advocated for GIC health insurance reform, state contract ratification and our $15 minimum wage plus Paid Family & Medical Leave ballot initiatives. Our Lobby Day actions are critical to getting our legislation passed!
We thank you for your support and participation! We will keep you updated on our progress with these efforts. Remember, our voice is stronger when we come together to ask for actions on issues that matter the most to us. Here are some pictures:
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- State Representative Christine Barber speaking to 509 members
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- State Representative Christine Barber speaking to 509 members
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- Ready for 2018 Lobby Day!
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- State Representative Jim O’Day encouraging 509 members to campaign and run for office
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- State Representative Jim O’Day encouraging 509 members to campaign and run for office
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- Ready for 2018 Lobby Day!
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- 509 Pride!
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- Gearing up for Lobby Day!
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- SEIU 509 Treasurer Israel Pierre, SEIU 509 DCF Chapter President Adriana Zwick & SEIU 509 President Peter MacKinnon
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- Family Child Care Chapter President Celina Reyes and 509 members
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- SEIU 509 President Peter MacKinnon
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- Oviation for a great speaker!
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- 509 members ready to lobby!
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- Meeting with State Representative Rose Lee Vincent
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- Lobbying with State Representative Adrian Madaro
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- Meeting with State Representative Adrian Madaro
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- Private Sector Human Services Leaders Lobbying
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- Lobbying
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- Lobbying
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- Meeting with Legislative Aide
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- Letter of Support from Legislator
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- Meeting with Legislative Aide
SEIU 509 joins “Save Our Public Services” community coalition
SEIU 509 joins a coalition of community organizations, business groups, labor unions, religious congregations, and advocates who want to protect the vital public services funded by the Massachusetts state sales tax.
The proposed initiative petition would reduce state revenues by about $1.25 billion annually, necessitating severe cuts to local schools, public safety, roads, transit, health programs, and other vital services. This extreme proposal would cut the state’s second largest source of revenue by 20 percent.
“We’re in the middle of an opioid crisis, but this dangerous ballot question would divert millions of dollars away from critical social services like addiction treatment, homelessness prevention, and mental health counseling,” said Peter MacKinnon, President of SEIU Local 509. “As social workers and clinicians, we know first-hand that Massachusetts can’t afford such severe budget cuts when we’re trying to fight this public health emergency.”
SEIU 509 members are committed to opposing this ballot question and protecting the critical local services funded by the sales tax.
To set up an interview with SEIU 509 President Peter MacKinnon, contact us at media@seiu509.org.
To learn more about the coalition, please visit: https://www.saveourpublicma.org/
SEIU 509 IST chapter improves working conditions
This year, the Institutional School Teachers chapter accomplished the following wins:
- First, we have successfully convinced management that IST academic teachers should have the same sick-time formula as all other Department of Corrections employees. Now, IST academic teachers will now earn 1.5 more sick days per year.
- Second, we successfully negotiated a proposed management change to the 2018-19 school year calendar for Ed Specs. Management requested to have a mandatory week off moved from the end of August to the end of July, which would have given the vocational calendar’s 22 weeks of instruction without a break. The final week in August was reinstated due to union meeting with management.
- Third, we saved Part Two of our new Supplementary Agreement to preserve workers’ rights and ensure that we are paid for any additional work-weeks that could be added to our school year in the future.
Thank you IST members for your hard work to date! If you have any questions, contact our IST Chapter President Linda Delman at ist@seiu509.org.
SEIU 509 MRC Chapter fighting to save jobs & prevent office closures
SEIU 509’s Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission chapter is in arbitration with management because they laid off 23 workers. SEIU 509 believes that their rights were violated under Article 18. Our union is fighting in court to get their jobs back.
In addition, our union is challenging management’s attempt to close offices. We want to keep offices in the communities to make our services accessible to the individuals we serve. Many of our consumers rely on public transportation and desire a safe place for counselors to meet with their clients. Finding a safe, confidential space in the community to meet with consumers is difficult.
This year, SEIU 509 successfully reversed an attempt by management to lower our educational standards. Management wanted Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors to be hired with a Bachelor’s Degree. Our clients deserve to work with Master’s level counselors with knowledge about disabilities.
Plus, our union wants to change or eliminate Disability Determination Services core hours. DDS requires our members to be at their desk or on break from 9:30-11:30 AM and from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Instead, we are working with management to roll out an alternative work options (AWO) program.
Finally, we want the MRC Commissioner to meet and communicate more effectively with our members.
By fighting for these issues, we are ensuring that we have more manageable caseloads and smoother labor-management relationship to offer high-quality, effective and efficient services to the public. Thank you MRC members for your hard work and participation to date!
Contact
MRC Chapter President David Zbikowski
With a 93.5% YES vote, SEIU 509 State Workers approve their new contract!
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Congratulations! With a 93.5% YES vote, SEIU 509 state workers just ratified their tentative agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
| YES | NO | |
| UNIT 8 | 93.4% | 6.6% |
| UNIT 10 | 97.3% | 2.7% |
| Total | 93.5% | 6.5% |
Over the past year, members stood in solidarity with the union bargaining committee and took action at work sites. As a result, SEIU 509 state workers won a new contract that offers more pay, more job security and better working conditions.
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Some highlights include:
- Pay increases for three years, including a retroactive wage increase for 2017,
- Preservation of sick time,
- Longer vacation periods, and
- Grievance process improvements.
There are also additional contract language improvements throughout the agreement, including agency-specific language gains for several different chapters.
Thank you members for your hard work and for supporting the bargaining team throughout these negotiations. It was the members and their co-workers who proved that when we stand together as a union, we win!
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WIN: GIC votes 12-2 to reinstate state workers’ health insurance plans
SEIU 509 members successfully fought back against drastic changes to Massachusetts state workers’ healthcare and kept the continuity of care that their families deserve.
Because of SEIU 509 members’ phone calls, e-mails and testimonies, the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted 12-2 to reinstate all of the state workers’ health insurance plans.
SEIU 509 will continue to watch and speak out to ensure that the GIC doesn’t try to take these benefits away again.
Thank you SEIU 509 members for your hard work to save our health insurance options!