December 2013

Win in Westborough
Selectmen vote to maintain services at senior center, save local job
t the Oct. 21 Special Town Meeting in Westborough, citizens voted against a request by the Board of Selectmen to cut current custodial services at the Senior Center. The selectmen had proposed outsourcing the custodians position to a private contract cleaning company in Article 10 on the warrant for the Town Meeting without any notice to -- or discussion with -- the union for Westboroughs employees. Making a unilateral change of this nature without notifying their union violates the workers contract with management. After reading about the proposed change in the warrant, town employees (and union leaders) Terry Gilchrist and Gail Silva launched a campaign to save the custodial job. We kicked it off on Oct. 8 by holding signs to save quality services outside the Board of Selectmens meeting when they met to discuss the warrant article, said Gail Silva, who has worked for the town as a computer network specialist for more than 6 years. Then we spread the word by distributing leaflets about how this would adversely affect the Senior Center. We enlisted as many supporters as we could to attend the Oct. 21 town meeting. Selectmen had maintained that they could save $31,000 by contracting out, but Local 888 members successfully made the case that seniors who use the center would lose the personal service they depend upon.

Public Defenders Seek Voice at Work

hat if you lacked a say over your wages and working conditionsall because of a drafting glitch? Thats what happened to the attorneys, administrative support staff, investigators, and social workers employed by the Committee for Public Counsel Services. They were left out of the collective bargaining law that gave state employees the right to form unions. With support from Local 888 organizers, the public defenders have been working to pass House Bill 2389 which would correct that inequity and help them gain a voice at work. A hearing on the bill before the Public Service Committee was held at the Statehouse on Nov. 25 with several CPCS staff and a law professor providing supportive testimony. Rachel Scotch, a staff attorney working in Eastern Middlesex County, said that too many of her colleagues are leaving for other agencies where theyll have formal processes for advancement and clear career paths. Those are things that I cannot see for myself. I worry not just for my future, but also for the future of what has arguably been the best public defender agency in the country.
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Brenda Rodrigues, Local 888 secretary treasurer, and Gail Silva, chapter chair of the Town of Westboroughs clerical unit, urge town selectmen not to cut custodial services at the senior center.

Chris Gonsalves, Rachel Scotch and Christian Williams urge lawmakers to include their agency in the state collective bargaining law and help them gain a voice at work.

In this issue:
Local 888 scholarships now available Toys for Tots Meet the latest Crazy 8s winners

The Spark

December 2013

www.seiu888.org

Ask Sparky
Dear Sparky: Im part of a group of town employees and recently weve been hearing a lot about the p wordprivatization. Its the same old, same old. They say they can save money by contracting out some of our jobs. We havent gotten any specific info about what the town has in mind. Is there anything we can do to nip this business in the bud? Signed, Getting Worried Dear Worried: When you mentioned the p word, I just assumed you meant puppy. Have you seen the messes they make and what they can do to your furniture? Who came up with that idea anyway??? But back to your p word. I dont have to tell you that the threat of privatization is everywhere these days as cashstrapped cities and towns look to save a buck. Thats why you have to make sure that local residents understand that outsourcing has costs they may not have considered. Thats exactly what some of your brothers and sisters who work for the Town of Westborough did when they faced the loss of a custodial position (see cover story). While the town focused on a particular dollar amount, members of the Westborough units took their message directly to the seniors who would be affected by the cut. Best of all, they won and saved the custodians job. Now if we could just do something about those darned puppies... Sparky Learn more about privatization at: www.OutsourcingAmericaExposed.org

Coming Attractions
Steward Training
When: Saturday, December 7, 9:30 AM-2PM Where: Local 888 Lowell office, 104 University Avenue, Lowell Note: this training is open to all Local 888 members. Please RSVP to lfield@seiu888.org.

Movie Night: Made in Dagenham

When: Monday, December 16, 6-8:30PM Where: Local 888 Lowell office, 104 University Avenue, Lowell This award-winning film depicts a 1968 strike at a Ford auto factory in Dagenham, England where female workers walked out in protest against discrimination.

Womens Caucus
When: Wednesday, December 11, 6-8PM Where: Local 888 union hall, 52 Roland Street, Charlestown

Local 888 Executive Board Meeting

When: Wednesday, December 18, 10AM Where: Local 888 union hall.

Getting Ready to Run Training

When: Saturday, February 1, 2014 Where: To Be Announced Are you frustrated that the legislature isnt implementing more progressive policy? Think that you might make a difference by running for office or helping someone who will? Curious what it would take? Mass Alliance and Progressive Massachusetts are teaming up to offer a workshop designed for progressives who are thinking about running or leading a campaign in the 2014 primary. Call 617-722-4320 for an application.

Local 888 Scholarships

Local 888 has a scholarship program for members and their immediate family with awards up to $500. Three scholarships will be awarded for any qualified college or post-secondary education program and two sch olarships are designated specifically for labor-s tudy programs. Apply and learn about additional scholarships at www.seiu888.org/888member s/benefits or email myunion@seiu888.org. No te: Application deadline is December 15 !

Holyoke Soldiers Home Executive Board member Kwesi Ablordeppey and Brenda Rodrigues presented a check for $1,000 to the Shiners Hospital for Children in Springfield. The money was raised at the Spaghetti Dinner in October organized by the Western Massachusetts Caucus.

The Spark

December 2013

www.seiu888.org

Member
Spotlight
Rachel Massey: Making Massachusetts a safer place to live and work
Rachel Massey is the policy program manager and senior associate director at UMass Lowells Toxic Use Reductions Institute or TURI.

I really have a passion for what we do here at TURI and I can see that unions are really making a difference. Over the years here, it motivated me to become active in my own union. To prepare for the UMass Professionals contract negotiations next year, members are meeting with union reps to do a survey about their bargaining priorities. I really appreciate the support from Local 888 to help us reach out to every member. All of us care about our jobs and want to improve the quality of life and the work environment at UMass. If you have toxic issues in your workplace TURI might be able to help with research, testing and training. Call TURI at (978) 934-3275 or visit their website at: www.turi.org.

Know a member who should be featured in the Spark? Write to spark@seiu888.org.

achel Massey likes things clean. The policy program manager and senior associate director at UMass Lowells Toxic Use Reductions Institute or TURI, Massey is focused on helping make Massachusetts a safer place to live and work. TURI was established by passage of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act in 1989. Today, TURI collaborates with businesses, community and labor organizations and government agencies to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, protect public health and the environment, and increase competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses. Most of Rachels co-workers at TURI are Local 888 members and she also serves as the area rep on campus for UMass Professionals. Rachel says that the institute has a strong teamwork ethic and emphasizes staff and inter-departmental collaboration to accomplish its objectives. TURIs mission to reduce toxic chemical use in products is seen as a model for environmental and worker safety in the US and internationally. Through our work, we provide resources to unions and others to help improve working conditions by reducing toxic chemical use, said Massey. In a recent survey of Massachusetts companies, 51 percent said that the Toxics Use Reduction Act had helped their company improve worker health and safety.

Local 888 Collects Toys for Tots

ts holiday timeand that means that once again Local 888 will be joining forces with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program in an effort to brighten the season for needy children. If youd like to participate, just drop off new toys (unwrapped) or a check/cash donation to the Local 888 union hall by Friday, December 13th. For more information, call 617-241-3300.

The Spark

December 2013

www.seiu888.org

Meet the Crazy 8s Winners

Congratulations to the winners of last months Crazy 8s contest. Scott Hampton, Westwood Schools found 110 eights in The Spark and won the first place prize of a $75 gift card. Amy Eddy, from UMass Lowell was the second place winner ($50) and Priscilla March, also from UMass Lowell, was third ($25).

Public Defenders Seek Voice

continued from cover

Local 888 Aids in Effort to Raise Minimum Wage

More than 275,000 Massachusetts residents have signed onto an effort to raise the state minimum wage and guarantee earned sick days. The successful signature gathering, spearheaded by Raise Up Massachusetts, reflected the hard work of thousands of individuals, along with community organizations, church groups, social service agencies and unions. Local 888 staff and members set out to collect 2,000 signatures and ended up bringing in 3,250. If state lawmakers fail to enact a bill raising the minimum wage, voters will get the last say in November 2014, when both the minimum wage and earned sick time questions will appear on the ballot.

Chris Gonsalves, a CPCS investigator, told lawmakers that experienced and dedicated employees are increasingly leaving the agency for other agencies or the private sector. Public defender Chris Williams, who works in CPCSs Fall River office, points out that most of the other workers whom the defenders encounter everyday--court officers, DCF attorneys, DMH attorneys and DTA attorneyshave the right to organize and have formed unions. Said Williams: Like all other state workers, we deserve a voice in our future. Northeastern law professor and labor law expert Karl Klare also weighed in on behalf of the public defenders. It is fundamental to a democratic society that all employees are entitled to have a voice in the decisions that affect their working lives, said Klare. These men and women made a life-choice to forego maximum personal gain and prestige to perform a mission indispensable to justice and the rule of law. The Public Service Committee will decide whether to report the bill out to the Ways and Means Committee and then the full House of Representatives. Local 888 members can support the public defenders bid for a voice at work by writing or calling their State Representatives and urging them to support House Bill 2389. Please call or email Local 888 to let us know what your Rep. said.

Barnes O & M Unit gets Chapter Visit

You can follow the progress of the legislation at https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/House/H2389

Local 888 Secretary-Treasurer Brenda Rodrigues visited with members at the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield to discuss contract and representational issues. Members Chris Gouin, Mike Feeney and David Paye are in the operations and maintenance unit there. If youd like Rodrigues or Local 888 President Mark DelloRusso to meet with your chapter, call Brenda at 617-421-3300 or email brodrigues@seiu888.org.

Stay in the loop and up-to-date by liking Local 888 on Facebook. Find us at: www.facebook.com/ SEIULocal888