Union Siblings,
Last night, we packed the room at our union hall in Marlborough to show the Commonwealth we are united and ready to fight for a fair contract! Members from seven different chapters testified about the challenges our members face daily around recruitment and retention, caseload and workload issues, and concerns about safety on the job. These themes are the framework for every proposal we will bring across the table during this campaign. Last night, we made three proposals to kick off the bargaining process:
- Five personal days for every state worker
- Increase in mileage
- Additional rest & breaks throughout the day
Shout out to: Chris Baratz (MassHealth), Jean McClure (DMH), Amy Meinert (DOR/CSE), Jamie Poudrier (DTA), Scott Rogers (IST), Katie Scammell (DCF), Tina Simmerman (DDS), Joy Talbot (IST) for your strong testimonies on behalf of your chapters and our membership!
For years, the Commonwealth has failed to make meaningful investments to address the impacts of high turnover, unmanageable caseloads, and unsafe working conditions. Yesterday at bargaining, we invited Governor Healey to join our next bargaining session and hear from our members directly about the impact of these issues on our members, our agencies, and our clients. We will report back on her response to our invitation.
While we continue to advocate in the State House for the legislature to fund the raises and other improvements we won in May, we need to look ahead. Winning a strong contract is an opportunity for us to address the retention, workload, and safety issues that affect our members and agencies daily. We will continue to keep you informed of updates regarding the raises & retro pay we are owed by the Commonwealth.
Here are three ways you can stay informed as the campaign continues:
Be sure to bookmark our website for all the latest information, including upcoming bargaining sessions: www.seiu509.org/2023-state-contract-campaign
Plan to attend bargaining: Our next bargaining sessions will take place on Tuesday, September 26 at 10:00AM and Thursday, October 19 at 1:00PM at the Local 509 office in Marlborough. All members are invited to attend as observers. Please RSVP here if you plan on joining us for bargaining!
Sign up for texts! Text CONTRACT to 787753 to get action alerts and updates from the bargaining committee throughout the campaign.
In Solidarity,
David Foley
President, SEIU 509
