SEIU Local 888 November 2013 Spark

8/13/2019 SEIU Local 888 November 2013 Spark

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November 2013

Local 888 members,SEIU help Walsh winOther endorsed candidates fare well

In this issue: Play Crazy 8s and win a gift card

Member spotlight: Patrick Meade

Hundreds of union members crowded into Gard-ner Auditorium on Oct. 31 for a hearing on Gov.Patricks proposal to raise the age and years of ser-vice required to be eligible for health care coveragein retirement. In written testimony submitted to thePublic Service Committee, Local 888 President MarkDelloRusso said that while House Bill 59 addresses

real problems, it goes too far. Said DelloRusso: makeno mistake; the solution to retiree health care costsshould not come exclusively off the backs of retireeson fixed incomes.

House Bill 59 is an attempt to address the very realproblem of unfunded retiree health care liabilities,which threaten the long-term stability of state andlocal govern-ment financ-es. Most ofthe unionsfor state andmunicipalworkers,includingLocal 888have beenvery en-gaged withthe Gover-nor and theLegislatureto work on

the issue and be part of the solution.The major challenge is to address the problems

of long-term stability, affordability, security, and theavailability of this benefit for retirees now and into thefuture.

continued,pg.3

Retiree Health BillGoes Too Far

Local 888 and Local 509 members at a

recent hearing on the future of retiree

health insurance.

Fueled by support from union members and theirfamilies throughout Boston, Martin Walsh bestedCity Councilor John Connolly to become the first newMayor-elect of Boston in almost 20 years.

Walshs victory marks the first page of a new

chapter for working families around the city. First asa laborer and union president, then as a State Repre-sentative and now as Mayor-elect of Boston, Walshscontinued commitment to fight for working familieshas time and again set him apart.

Walshs compassion and strong history of standingup for working families was affirmed by the thousandsof union-affiliated volunteers and leaders who donat-ed their time during this contentious race, includinghundreds of SEIU members.

Support for Walsh at SEIU Local 888 was evidenced

by the strong enthusiasm from members at an Oc-tober 10 forum that both candidates were invitedto. The unions Committee on Political Action votedoverwhelming to endorse Walsh immediately after theforum. Local 888 members and our team of memberpolitical organizers actively promoted Walshs can-didacy by canvassing in members neighborhoodsthrough Election Day to help get out the vote.

For more election news, go to: www.seiu888.

org/category/union-updates/

Local 888 orga-

nizer Christina

Villafranca gath-

ered signatures

on election day

for the Raise Up

Massachusetts

campaign in Mal-

den. Shes shown

here with victori-

ous Malden City

Council candidate

Debbie DeMaria.


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The Spark November 2013 www.seiu888.org

Ask SparkyDear Sparky: I never thoughtId be writing a letter to a dogbefore but Ive got something on

my mind and Im hoping you canadvise. We just got a new con-tract where I work and, no of-fense, but its a dog. Not only didit take forever to reach a deal but we have to start allover next year. Im starting to wonder what the wholepoint of this exercise is. Got any thoughts?Signed, Frustrated in Franklin

Dear Frustrated: Hows about you give me Mr. (orMrs.) Bosspersons address and I growl at them untilyou get a better deal? Seriously: you put your paw on

a big issue. Bargaining takes workand not just by afew people who are on the official bargaining com-mittee. In fact the key to getting a decent contracttakes organizing. When you and your co-workers putyour demands forward, management needs to knowthat youre barkingI mean speakingon behalf ofeveryone. Theres a reason why strong locals get thebest contracts. They go into bargaining with a well-organized plan, including a strategy of what to do iftrouble arises at the table. You might start by settingup a contract action team or CATbosses hate cats.

And if that fails, give me a jingle. Im grrrrrrrrrrrrreat atthe table, especially when theres a little something tomunch on.Sparky

Coming AttractionsAFRAM Meeting: Understanding YourContractWhen: Tuesday, November 12, 5:30PM

Where: Boston City Hall

Light Refreshments will be served

For more information, contact Lorna at (857) 251-7792

Please RSVP to [email protected] soon as possible .

Steward Training in SE Mass.When: Tuesday, November 12 and 19, 6-8PM

Where: Greater Southeastern Mass Labor Counciloffice , 556 Pleasant St., New BedfordLight Refreshments will be served

COST: $75.00. Note: Local 888 chapter funds may beused for training! For more info, contact Kim Wilson Ve-

nancio at 508-999-8781 or [email protected]

Womens CaucusWhen: Wednesday, November 13, 6-8:00PMWhere: Local 888 union hall, 52 Roland Street, Charlestown

Raise Up Mass Signature DriveWhen: Nov. 16 - 17; Where: StatewideHelp the final push to gather signatures to raise theminimum wage and win earned sick time on the ballotin 2014. More info at: http://raiseupma.org. Forpetitions,contact the union hall at 617.241.3300.

Local 888 Executive Board Meeting

When: Wednesday, November 20, 10:00AMWhere: Local 888 union hall.

Wina$75GiftCardPlayourCrazy8sgameandyoucouldwinoneofthreegiftcardsworth$25,$50or$75. Hereshowitworks:wheneveryouseethenumber8inthiseditionoftheSpark,makeanote.Addupthesumofthe8sandmailorfax

youranswerbacktoLocal888.All correctanswerswillbeen-teredintoadrawingtobeheldnextmonth.MailyourentrybyNovember30thtoSEIULocal 888,52RolandStreet,Charlestown,MA,02129orfaxto617.241.5150.Besuretoincludeyourname,chapterorworkplaceandemail addressand/orphonenumber.Onlymembersingoodstandingareeligibletowin. Goodluck!

More than 20 members stopped by to celebrate the

opening of the new Merrimack Valley Local 888 union

office in Lowell. The new office is located at 104

University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854. The office is open

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

or by appointment. SEIU Local 888 members are united

in more than 20 chapters in the Merrimack Valley.


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MemberSpotlight

Patrick Meade

Talk to Patrick Meade about the rightsof workers to join a union and the conversationquickly turns passionate. Unions are vital toworkers. We need solidarity and to be organizedto deal with the management if they treat usunfairly, says Meade, who works in the City HallRegistry in Boston.

When Meade saw that a shop steward po-sition was vacant he decided to go for it in order

to become more active in Local 888. He says thathis decision was inspired in part by watching lastyears high-profile teachers strike in Chicago. Hisinterest in union-related activism has only grownsince then. In September Meade joined other Lo-cal 888 members in Washington DC for a marchcommemorating the 50th anniversary of MartinLuther Kings I Have a Dream speech.

While Meade wasnt sure what to expect withhis new position as shop steward, hes had somehelp getting adjusted. He won a contest on the

Local 888 website, taking home Bob Schwartzsbook, The Legal Rights of Union Stewards. Thatsbeen a big help, says Meade, but hes not donelearning yet. The more I know, the more I canhelp other workers know their rights.

Do you know a member who should be

featured in the Spark? Write to spark@

seiu888.org.

Health Bill Goes Too Far continued from cove

Municipalities spent about $800 million onhealth care for retirees last year. Retiree health-care costs are projected to grow to more than $1billion within five years and to nearly $1.5 billionin 10 years. Both pension and retiree health carecosts are growing faster than municipal revenue,complicated by Proposition 2 which restrictsthe amount communities can levy in taxes.

Patricks legislation proposes raising thenumber ofyears publicemploy-ees work

before theyare eligiblefor retireehealthbenefitsfrom 10 to20 years.It wouldalso increase the minimum eligibility age byfive years for each employee group. For mostemployees, it would go to age 60, 55 for speci-fied hazardous duty employees and 50 for public

safety employees.If approved by the Legisla-ture, the changes would be applied to currentemployees, with exemptions for those close toretirement.

Gail Silva, who works for the IT Dept. in theTown of Westborough attended the statehousehearing and was impressed, Some of the com-mittee members were very thoughtful and actu-ally seemed to be interested in what people weresaying, said Silva. I hope they dont decide topass the cost on to future retirees. Why wasnt

government properly funding these retireeplans? And why are they talking about burden-ing us instead of challenging the outrageouscosts of health care. That was the elephant inthe room.

For a copy of Mark DelloRussos testimony

contact Rand Wilson at [email protected]

or call 617.241.3300.


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Everett Nurses Unite in Local 888About 15 nurses chose SEIU Local 888 when theywanted a strong voice in their work and careers inthe Everett Schools. We take care of the kids -- andthe staff in all of the Everett schools, said ChristenPiscatelli, one of the more active RNs. We need to

have a voice at work and Local 888 was the right fit.The group won union recognition with majority signup and is now preparing for negotiations. They meton Oct. 30 at the union hall to discuss their prioritiesand make plans to win a good first contract. Welooked at other contracts in Everett and for schoolnurses elsewhere, said RNAngela Ciaramaglia.

Brockton Librarians win on

educational incentive payLibrarians in Brockton recently negotiated increases totheir incentive pay for advanced degrees. Howevermanagement there believed that the language of thecontract meant that they could pay members theirincentives in 2014. The members believed otherwiseand filed a grievance to get their pay in 2013. Therewas as much as $12,000 at stake. On October 24 theunion and management settled the grievance in favor

of the members.

Randolph Town HallRandolph members won a new three year agreementthat addresses new evening hours for the Town Hall.Members will get comp time for staying late on Mondaynights. Members will see their pay increase up to 4%(and no less than 2.5%) in the first year. In other years,raises will depend on local tax receipts (but will not beless than .5 %). Members also won a $100 increase intheir longevity.

Agreement reached between

City and Springfield Bus MonitorsWhen the City of Springfield unilateraly changedits agreements with bus monitors, requiring themto report to the bus depot rather than being pickedup at their residence, the monitors fought back. Themonitors filed a grievance, arguing that the changeto their working conditions made it impossible forsome members to do their jobs. That grievance wasrecently settled and monitors will once again bepicked up and dropped off at their place of residenceShop steward Germaine Murchisonsays shesthrilled with the outcome, but that the fight isnt over

Brockton Food Service WorkersBrockton School food service workers ratified a newthree year contract on October 29 with cost of living

raises of 2%, 1% and 1%. Members also won a new10-year step, which gives workers whove been onthe job for ten years an additional 4% raise. Wevebeen fighting for years to win a new step, said negotiating committee member Lorraine Monroe. Mostlead workers and primary cooks are now seven hourpositions with the three cooks getting pay bumps.The evaluation period was reduced from six to twoweeks for bid transfers.

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Brockton Food Service negotiating committeemembers Jean Roy, Linda Machnig, Diane Matta,

Laurie Healy, (not pictured, Lorraine Monroe).

Everett school nursesand new Local 888 members

Angela Ciaramaglia and Christen Piscatelli.

Documents

SEIU Local 888 November 2013 Spark