Local 509 members build political power for workers and the people we serve. We win strong contracts, protect workers’ rights, and make Massachusetts a better place to live and work.
We fight for legislation that centers our members – human service workers and educators in both the public and private sectors – by advocating for better working conditions and increased accessibility to the workforce. We fight for political candidates who are pro-worker and pro-labor, benefiting our membership through strong relationships with elected officials and coalition partners.
Guided by the solidarity principles created by our membership, our political program advocates for our social justice values in the State House and on the streets throughout the Commonwealth. As the labor movement faces mounting pressures of rising wealth inequality, attacks on immigrants, and cuts to essential social services and infrastructure, we are fighting back to protect working families.
Our power is in our hands. Join us.
advocacy campaigns
Our Legislative & Political Advocacy Priorities
In 2026, we’re sticking to our values and focusing our political advocacy on protecting essential services, advocating for our members, and fighting back against policy choices that are harming our communities. That means we’re also fighting for higher pay, worker protections, better benefits, and affordable housing through legislative advocacy and ballot measures.
We’re working with our coalition partners to fight against the billionaire class and level out the playing field for the people who uplift Massachusetts communities.
Learn more below about how we’re fighting for working families with our legislative and political advocacy priorities:
Protect Our Care: Fund essential services and social infrastructure
- As a union of health and human service workers, Local 509 is committed to protecting essential services, our workers, and our communities.
- To prevent harmful cuts to essential services and social infrastructure, we urge Massachusetts to raise state revenue through Corporate Fair Share –– and to reject harmful ballot measures proposed by the Massachusetts High Technology Council, which will cut taxes for the ultra-rich at the expense of working families.
- We urge the state to reject the Trump administration’s harmful tax cuts at the state level by decoupling Massachusetts’ corporate tax cuts from federal ones. These cuts only benefit billionaires at the expense of working families.
- Ensure that the FY26 budget protects our workforce and the clients we serve, fund our programs, and allows our members to continue serving our communities.
Advocacy for our Family Child Care workers & MA families
Local 509 is organizing to win legislation that would provide a tax relief for family childcare providers in Massachusetts, fully fund the state’s frozen childcare voucher waitlist, and provide retirement saving options for our FCC members.
Immigrant Rights
- Guided by our Solidarity Principles, Local 509 stands with immigrants. Our local is fighting for the rights of immigrants and urges limitations to state cooperation with immigration enforcement. Learn more here.
- Local 509 aims to ensure that people can access health care, emergency assistance, and protection without fear of detention or deportation. We stand together with our immigrant communities. Send a letter to your state legislators to support legislation that protects our communities!
Candidates & Endorsements
SEIU 509 is endorsing labor champions for state offices in 2026! If you are interested in learning more about our endorsement process, please reach out to Deputy Political Director Alicia Goganian at agoganian@seiu509.org.
Click here for information about our candidate endorsements & GOTV program!
Join COPE
The Committee On Political Education (COPE) is part of SEIU Local 509 and serves as our political action fund. Money contributed to COPE goes directly toward electing pro-labor candidates into office, as well as working for or against ballot measures that would affect our union.
Because many of our members are employed by the state or agencies that receive funding from the state, having supportive elected officials in office is important to funding strong and fair contracts. Contributing to COPE is a great way to invest in your future as a union member in Massachusetts.
Because we do not use members’ dues to give to political campaigns, COPE is funded by voluntary contributions from our members. As little as $1/week can make a big difference.
The COPE Committee, which decides how funds are distributed, meets on the 1st Wednesday of every month. All members are welcome to join and help us decide how we can work together to support pro-worker elected officials. Contact Political and Legislative Director Dan Hoffer for more information.
Sign up above and help shape the direction of our COPE Committee!