On Tuesday, May 8, Joe Kennedy, candidate for the 4th Congressional District, came out to meet up with Local 509 members in Milford. It was a great opportunity for our members to get to know Joe and where he stands on issues that are important to us, and it was just as great an opportunity for Joe to get to know who Local 509 members are and what we do.

Photos from the event:

Persons with disabilities and their families depend on a network of nonprofit companies, almost entirely funded by state contracts, for their services.

Given the rampant abuses by CEOs of nonprofits, is it any wonder that state officials have been hesitant to entrust them with more state funds?

We support common-sense efforts from the Attorney General and Inspector General that call for more transparency and the closure of loopholes around executive compensation for nonprofits. Reform efforts should also address nepotism and do-nothing boards of directors. These reforms are needed, but so are funding increases earmarked for the direct care workers who hold the system together.

Due to the relationships involved, the quality of services is compromised when staff turnover is high. But given current funding, many workers can’t afford to stay in the profession. It’s been more than five years since the state increased funding for direct care staff wages, and as the economy improves, staff turnover will again put a strain on support services for people with disabilities.

Over the past few years, thousands of direct support workers have joined our union to have a stronger voice to improve funding and the quality of services for the people they support every day.

Susan Tousignant, President, SEIU Local 509

STEWARDS:

Enough is enough. It’s time for big businesses and the wealthiest amongst us to pay their fair share, just like the rest of us do. On Tax Day, Local 509 members took to the streets with a clear message for corporations and the 1%: PAY YOUR TAXES!

Joined by MassUniting, community groups, and other SEIU Locals, we sent a message to Massachusetts corporations that it’s time for them to pay their share.

Join the fight for Tax Equality today, click here to find out what you can do to make a difference today

Photos from our rally in Malden and march in Boston

When the votes were tallied, the result was beyond overwhelming: 364 yes, 4 no.

Members were overjoyed at the nearly unanimous support of the contract that their bargaining team had put together, and are looking forward to seeing the results of their hard work at the bargaining table. Among other gains, the new three year contract includes:

• Retroactive pay raises.
• A 2% bonus.
• A grievance and arbitration procedure with just cause for discipline and terminations
• and many more improvements

Congratulations again to the Bridgewell bargaining team for the great results from your hard work.

John Follit Award ($2,000) – Awarded to a member from the Public Sector Chapters
Awarded to David Gokey (DCF) on behalf of Samantha Gokey.

Ginny Steinberg Award ($2,000) – Awarded to a member from the Private Sector Chapter
Awarded to Norman Gilbert (MSPCC – West) on behalf of Thesesa Bui.

Martin Martinian Award ($1,000) – Awarded to a SEIU Local 509 Officer or Steward or their dependent
Awarded to Deborah Terzian (DCF) on behalf of John Barrett Terzian

Joseph Hilyard / Robert McHugh Award ($1,500)
Awarded to Asdrubal Cruz (DCF) on behalf of Nathan Cruz.

Frank Shea / Arnel Prout Award ($1,500)
Awarded to Katherine L. Touzjian (DDS) on behalf of Abigail Marjorie Touzjian.

Linda Silva/Seborah Ann D’lorio Award ($1,000)
Awarded to Luz Cruz (DCF) on behalf of Jerry Ramos.

Meredith Miller Memorial Award ($1,000)
Awarded to Mike Burke (DCF) on behalf of Kathleen Burke.

Bill Greene Memorial Award ($1,000)
Awarded to Deborah Edmands (DMH) on behalf of Danielle Edmands.

Luis Vega Memorial Award ($1,000)
Awarded to Mary Miller (DCF) on behalf of Jennifer Miller.

Colonial Scholarship ($500) – awarded to two members
Awarded to Rebecca Schiel (DTA) and Jessica Hall (DMH)

Lissette Lapaix:

Lissette Lapaix (right) and other providers at the State House

Hi, my name is Lissette Lapaix. I have been a provider in Jamaica Plain for 16 years. On March 22nd I had the opportunity to visit the State House with three of my Child Care children and a group of other providers. We visited Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and our state representative Elizabeth Malia. The providers and children in my group wanted to remind them that our bill, that will allow us to form a Family Child Care Union, came out of the committee of Children and Families and is now in the House of Ways and Means, and to ask for their support on this bill.

My children were very impressed with the grandiose building the State House is. Theo Kushmerek, 4 years of age, was especially impressed when he saw Senator Chang-Diaz dressed in yellow outfit; it is his favorite color. When she approached us, we had an animated conversation with us and then sat on the floor to pose for pictures with us. All of us enjoyed the experience. I was so happy that Senator Chang-Diaz was so approachable and made our visit that much more memorable. Sibu, Senator Chang-Diaz’s aide, was kind enough to take pictures for their Facebook page, which I was able to obtain and forward to all my Child Care parents through e-mail.

I am not sure if politics is supposed to be this fun, but our visit to the State House was awesome.

Barbara Martin:

I am a Family Provider from Mattapan, my name is Barbara Martin, and I was part of lobby day on march 22nd, where Family Providers came together to speak out in support of forming our Union. To me, it was a wonderful experience where were able to send a message to our representatives of what our profession needs; to have a voice in early education. I also had the opportunity to speak with representative George Ross, and he was very supportive. He showed a special interest and listen to us. He was very positive in the fact that he understands what people need to better themselves. He worked in many non-profits organizations in the past and I feel this gives him a great perspective in supporting the needs of our community. It was refreshing and hopeful to have spoken to a representative. This meant a lot to me. Now that our bill came out of the committee of children and families, it showed the Family Providers can get this done by coming together. We have worked for a long time, we will keep on fighting, and we will reach more Providers to make our cause stronger by working as a United front.

Learning the Pass the Bill song.

Overall it was a great experience to meet other Family Providers that feel the same as me in support of our Union. We spoke out as a family, we learned along with the children, and more importantly we came closer as a group. My husband of 35 years wrote a beautiful tune that we taught the other Family Providers and children to get our message across at the state house, and we all enjoyed it:

Pass the bill, the child care bill,
Pass the bill, beacon hill.
House and Senate, don’t delay,
Pass the bill, right away!

Photos from our Lobby Day

As we begin the process of forming these committees, we’d like to hear your ideas about how we can make services more effective in your agency for our clients, consumers, and our community as a whole.

To submit your suggestions for improving our services, select your chapter:

The union will take everyone’s suggestions into consideration as we compile our initial proposals for the Working Groups.

The state has granted our members permission to use their work assigned computers to participate in the process. All responses will be kept confidential, and if your suggestion is brought to the committee, your name will be not used.

In November 2011, workers at Alternatives lost their union election by a narrow margin, and now we know why. Evidence uncovered and presented to the National Labor Relations Board indicates widespread abuse of workers’ rights by Alternatives Unlimited managers prior to the election.

Evidence of illegal activity included:

• Threatening employees
• Overly broad no solicitation policy
• Surveying staff about union sympathies
• Granting bonuses in order to discourage union support

Faced with a mountain of evidence, Dennis Rice has given in and agreed to another election. As part of the agreement, Alternatives is required to post statements in worksites saying that they will not commit these infractions going forward.

Alternatives Unlimited relies almost entirely on state tax dollars. Dennis Rice is constantly crying poor mouth**, begging the state for more money, yet he seems to have unlimited funds to fight employees who are organizing for a voice on the job.

Another union election will be scheduled for in a few months.. You’d think that Dennis would have learned his lesson by now, but unfortunately, we would not be surprised if their campaign of intimidation continues through this election as well.

Click here to email Dennis Rice to demand that he not spend state tax dollars again on his anti union crusade, and stop interfering with workers’ rights to organize.