For years, SEIU Local 509 members at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind have worked tirelessly to ensure that members of the blind community have the support that they need – and deserve – to live with self-determination and dignity. Over the past several years, we have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of the agency under the leadership of Commissioner David D’Arcangelo. We have repeatedly raised concerns about the direction of the agency and its impact on our communities and have called for accountability.
Today, after years of calling for systemic change and the removal of the Commissioner, we are celebrating his resignation.
Too often, workers and consumers are pitted against each other, but today, we are disrupting that narrative. As a union of human service providers, our fight extends beyond improving our working conditions. It is grounded in a deep understanding that we are accountable to the communities we serve. We will continue to advocate for a better future for MCB – one that prioritizes the needs of consumers across the Commonwealth and provides workers with the tools we need to support them.
We are excited that the administration has shown their commitment to protecting our communities. We look forward to working with them to ensure that MCB remains grounded in its mission to provide the highest quality services to its consumers.
David Foley, SEIU Local 509 President
James Badger, Local 509 MCB Acting Chapter President
Carolyn Ovesen, Local 509 MCB Chapter Vice President
