After forming a union with SEIU Local 509 last year, direct support staff at Bridgewell just won their first union contract that improves pay and other working conditions and gives staff a voice in important decisions that impact the people …
Massachusetts
Coworkers, family & community allies remember slain mental health provider
Coworkers, family members, and community allies held statewide candlelight vigils to remember slain mental health provider Stephanie Moulton on her birthday. She would have been 26. Stephanie was killed just over a year ago, allegedly by a mentally ill client …
Remembering slain mental health provider Stephanie Moulton
Stephanie Moulton would have turned 26 years-old today. About a year ago, the mental health provider was repeatedly stabbed to death by one of her mental health patients at the Revere facility, a Massachusetts state-run facility. At the time of …
MHA Under investigation by state Operational Services Division
As we all know, the actions of Linda Williams, the union busting consultant, and managers were so outrageous last year–like erecting a stockade fence around the voting site on election day and indicating bonuses were tied to the outcome of …
Councilor Rivera Calls on Linda Williams to Respect City Council Resolution
In October of 2010, Springfield City Council passed a resolution supporting workers rights to allow employees to: “Choose freely whether to unionize or not, free from intimidation or coerction” As we all know by now, because the actions of Linda …
Let’s Not be Fooled Again!
Is it KEISHA or NATASHA? Most of us have been visited in our programs this week by a woman who sometimes goes by the name Keisha or Natasha. No one knows her real name. She claims she’s from Atlanta and …
Election Date Set for MHA!
Our Election Date Has Been Set! After a year of fighting to have our voices heard, the National Labor Relations Board has set a date for our election. It is time to put fear in the past, and think about …
Why We are Voting Yes for SEIU Local 509
Our employer, Mental Health Association, is one of the largest human service organizations in Western Massachusetts. We help people with mental health needs and developmental disabilities live independent lives in our community. Yet we deal with difficult working conditions, low …
Local 509 and Advocates Call on State to Put Mental Health Client and Worker Safety First
SEIU Local 509 had a very successful week working in partnership with families, the trade association, advocacy organizations, legislators, and consumers. There was major news coverage of our call to action to improve safety measures in the state’s mental health …
Community Advocates Tell Linda Williams to Respect Our Right to Form a Union
**UPDATE**Our local state Representative Cheryl Coakley-Rivera has show her support for our fight to win a voice at the work place. Check out the letter she sent to Linda Williams here. In addition, community organizations like Western Massachusetts Jobs with …
Massachusetts Mental Health and Direct Support Workers Are Uniting to Improve Services
Across Massachusetts, we hear the same thing from employees who provide support to people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. We want the best services for our clients and we’re doing that by joining together to win improvements like: A …
NLRB Says MHA Broke the Law; Orders New Election
In April, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned the election at MHA. In its ruling, the NLRB said: [O]n the day of the election, the Employer, without advance notice, changed the route and method by which employees would enter the …
509 Member Profiles
Wiliesha West, Guidewire “I love where I work. I love the people that I work with. I enjoy getting up every day, going to work, and being with the guys. I didn’t enjoy the way [Guidewire, formerly Sullivan] was run.” …
Member Profile: Wiliesha West, Worker at Guidewire (Springfield)
I love where I work. I love the people that I work with. I enjoy getting up every day, going to work, and being with the guys. I didn’t enjoy the way [Guidewire, formerly Sullivan] was run. Several times I’ve …
Member Profile: Tamador Gibreel, Worker at Guidewire (Springfield)
It’s been a long, sad twenty years since I left Sudan, my homeland. She was devastated by an ongoing civil war. When I was directing a play inspired by “Arabian Nights” the audience enjoyed the little bits of humor that …
Member Profile: Desmond Carter, Worker at Guidewire (Springfield)
Many years ago when I lived in Barbados, the telephone workers were being underpaid and working conditions were not the best. The Barbados Workers Union represented the telephone workers and were negotiating for better working conditions and more pay. They …
SEIU local 509 opposses use of aversives
Last week, SEIU Local 509 provided testimony to the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities opposing the use of aversives behavioral interventions or “skin shock . There has been much public controversy over the Judge Rotenberg Centers use of electric shock …
SEIU Local 509 and Mental Health Advocates in the News
Mental Health Advocates and Local 509 had a great week with the release of the State Mental Health Safety Task force Report, which received good coverage in last week’s papers. Boston globe Boston Herald In addition, the Conference Budget recommendation …
Mental Health Advocates United:Recent Victories
The Local 509 Union and Mental Health Advocates United Campaign has been extremely successful defending and improving the mental health system in Massachusetts. Over the past few months the Campaign has focused on stopping budget cuts, creating safe jobs …
Local 509 Members Testify on CBFS Bill
On May 17, Local 509 members testified in support of House Bill H1429 that would create an Oversight Commission for the state’s Community Based Flexible Supports (CBFS) system. Joined by members of the mental health community and other allies, Local …