SEIU Local 888 Spark, July 2013

7/28/2019 SEIU Local 888 Spark, July 2013

1/4

July 2013

Firsts For Members inHaverhill and Millis

Members of two new Local 888 chapters are cel-ebrating after negotiating and ratifying their firstcontracts. Congratulations to members at Millis TownHall and to the Haverhill Transportation Group fortheir hard work and determination. Just cause in Millis

Workers in Millis voted to join Local 888 in January of 2012. Their first contract includes wage increasesand increases for longevity. More importantly, say theMillis workers, are the just cause protections thatsparked their quest for union representation in thefirst place. Just cause provides important protectionsagainst unfair termination or discipline.First contract and first raise in Haverhill

Haverhill transportation workers are celebrating

their first raise in more than 5 years. The new Local888 members were able to negotiate a 5% wageincrease for bus and van drivers as well as an increasein the hourly rate for monitors. The transportationworkers used the lengthy process of negotiating a firstcontract to establish union fundamentals, including just cause language, a grievance procedure, sick time,vacation and seniority provisions. Members will also beissued School Department IDs for the first time, a signif-icant issue as they are now visibly identifiable as staff when on school property. The transportation workersvoted unanimously in favor of the new contract..

Local 888 Marks10 Year AnniversaryM ore than 100 members, family and friendsgathered in Onset last month to mark theten-year anniversary of Local 888 with a golf tour-nament, kids carnival and barbecue. The occasionwas a significant one, explains Mark DelloRusso,president of Local 888, because: Weve been

working hard to make this union stronger, moretransparent and more responsive to our mem-bers.

To take stock of recent progress, Local 888recently released an Annual Report. The reportcatalogues accomplishments of the currentadministrations first year in office and includesa financial report and a short history of the local.The report is online at www .seiu888.org . Hardcopies of the report can also be requested by call-ing 617. 241.3300.

Millis Town Hall members recently negotiated theirfirst contract. From left: Mike Giampietro, LaurieWalker, Karen Bouret and Scott Moles.

Haverhill bus drivers Kelly and Katlyn Gracialevoting to approve their new contract, the first for thetransportation workers.

In this issue: Win a $75 Gift Card Member Speakout: Greg King Chapter Reports Watertown Strong!
http://www.seiu888.org/http://www.seiu888.org/http://www.seiu888.org/http://www.seiu888.org/


2/4

The Spark July 2013 www.seiu888.org

Coming AttractionsRegional Steward Trainings Are you a Local 888 steward? Do you want to beone? Training for stewards is being offered at the fol-lowing times and locations:When: July 8, 6:00-8:30 PM (part 1) and July 15,6:00PM-8:30PM (part 2)Where: Local 888 Worcester office

- and - July 20th, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

Where: Local 888 Holyoke officeSpace is limited. Members are encouraged to regis-ter in advance with Lisa Field at (617) 435-8837 [email protected] .

Womens Caucus MeetingCome to the union hall to meet with other womenwho are members of Local 888 to share concerns andwork together for a stronger union.When: July 10, 6:00-8:00 PMWhere: Local 888 Union Hall

Latino Caucus Reception at Democratic Party ConventionWhen: July 12, 7:00-11:00PMWhere: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center50 Warner Street, Lowell, MA 01852For more info contact [email protected] .

COPA Political CommitteeWhen: July 16, 6:00-8:00 PM. (Note: City of BostonSubcommittee meets from 4:00-6:00 PM).Where: Local 888 Union Hall

Lottery Commission members Kevin Wilder ,Gordon Luciano and Sheila Dubrawski testifyingin support of House Bill 2224 which would allow long term state employees to use banked sick andvacation time to fully fund their pensions so they canretire.

Ask Sparky Dear Sparky : I can appreciatethe value of being in a union butits the whole package deal that

drives me crazyall these othergroups like the AFL-CIO and therest of the perpetual protestors.Doesnt it weaken our brand tobe associated with the loony left?Leave Me Alone Already

Dear Leave Me Alone Already : First of all, let mego on the record as saying that Im not a fan of tofuithas no taste! As for the texture... But you see, it takesall kinds to make a labor movement, including, as youcan read on the very next page, people who arenteven represented by unions. Take your particularchapter, for example. If youre like most units in Lo-cal 888, youre probably a pretty small group, whichmeans that its the power of the 8,500 other membersof the union that is helping you at the bargainingtable. Now add in the 2.1 million members acrossthe country who belong to SEIU and the 12 millionmembers of the AFL-CIO, of which you are also a part.Thats a pretty loud megaphone and is virtually theonly force keeping corporate America from completely having its way with us, if you know what I mean. As

for the loony left, keep in mind that it wasnt so longago that ending child labor or limiting the work weekto 40 hours, were considered loony causes. So my advice to you: next time someone offers you sometofu, try it (I will if you will). They say its excellent bar-becued.

Attention City of Boston MembersThe City of Boston is required by law to conduct anaudit of all employees and their dependents receiv-ing municipal health insurance. This means thatactive employees and retirees who are covering de-pendents under their health plan will be required toprovide certain documentation to verify their depen-dents eligibility. Please carefully read any correspon-dence you receive from HMS Employer Solutionsbecause there are specific instructions andtimelines outlined in the letter. Failure to follow theinstructions could result in loss of coverage for yourdependents.
http://www.seiu888.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.seiu888.org/


3/4


MemberSpeakout

Labors New Heartand SoulT he union movement is in real trouble. Accordingto the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unions currently unite just 11.3% of all workers and only 6.6% of theprivate sector workforce. Public sector employeesfare better: 35.9% of us are represented by unions.

Globalization, off-shoring and outsourcingexplain quite a bit of the decline. Another big chunk

of it is due to the ferocious assault on labor that hasbeen going on for at least the last 30 years. The richaccuse us of class warfare, but most of the war hasbeen waged by them.

Globalization and a frontal assault dont explaineverything, though. Dating back to the start of the Cold War, when radical labor leaders and theirunions were expelled or raided, the labor movementbegan to lose its heart and soul.

Why do I say that? Because workers come to-gether and form unions not just for better wagesand working conditions, but for a better life, as well.Working together on the job, we develop a sense of solidarity with one another. This sense of solidarity carries over into broad, union-wide struggles for abetter deal, but also into the communities in whichwe live.

This means the fight for better wages and work-ing conditions expands into one for better all-aroundliving conditions. Thats how working people be-come very conscious of the society around them andunite with their class brothers and sisters across thecountry and around the world. Leaders rise from the

rank-and-file who express the ideas and feelings of their fellow workers in what may be more articulateways. Together, the members and leaders fight toimprove their society.

Some of us are not even in unions, yet wevebeen fighting for ourselves really well -- at Wal-Mart,at Dunkin Donuts, at a lot of other fast food res-taurants, childcare agencies, taxi gathering points.Were increasingly turning to our allies in the neigh-borhoods, in civil and human rights organizations,fighting back together in places like Raleigh, Chicago,

Win a $75 Gift CardPlay our Crazy 8s game and you could win oneof three gift cards worth $25, $50 or $75. Hereshow it works: whenever you see the number 8 inthis edition of the Spark, make a note. Add up the

sum of the 8s and mail or fax your answer backto Local 888. (For example: every time Local 888appears it is equal to 24.) All correct answers willbe entered into a drawing to be held next month.Mail your entry by July 31st to SEIU Local 888,52 Roland Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129 or faxto 617.241.5150. Be sure to include your name,chapter or workplace and email address and/orphone number. Only members in good standingare eligible to win. Good luck!

San Jose, Honolulu, Newark, New York City. Weretelling the gas exploration companies to get thefrack out of here.

Thats the future of the labor movement. Unions

and collective bargaining, its true, but also loose as-sociations, worker centers, community groups, social justice organizations. We are starting to realize thatwere all in this together. The new heart and soul of the labor movement will develop in the communities.Thats where new grassroots leaders will arise from.Class struggle unionism will involve almost our wholeclass -- the 99 percent -- not just a fraction of the class.

We will rebuild the labor movement as an all-work-ers movement. We will fight, and we will win.

Greg King is a long-time City of Boston employee and

labor activist.If youd like to write something for Member Speakout,contact Rand Wilson at [email protected] .

City of BostonemployeeGreg Kingreflects on theheart and soulof the US labor

movement.Were startingto realize thatwere all inthis together,writes King.
http://www.seiu888.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.seiu888.org/


4/4


Chapter ReportsBrandeis Librarians Cheer ContractBrandeis librarians have won new five year contractswith significant across-the-board raises that brings

them up to prevailing wages at other universities forsimilar titles. The contract applies to both exempt andnon-exempt staff members. The chapter also gainedthree and a half new members because a new jobtitle was bargained in to the unit. Jim Rosenbloom(exempt) and Thomas Valicenti (non-exempt) wereelected stewards. Judith Tinnolis also served onthe bargaining team.

BPS Department Engineers New DealMembers of the Boston Public Schools Planningand Engineering Department have ratified anew six year contract, which runs through August2015. Retroactive raises were 0% in the first year, 1%in year two, 2% in year three and 3% in each yeargoing forward for years four through six. Also in thedeal: Bunker Hill and Evacuation Day were madefloating holidays and members now have four hoursfor cancer screening enshrined in their contract.

According to Local 888 Rep. Bill Storella, membersparticularly liked eliminating the oppressive swipe inand swipe out time clock. The 40 member unit justgot stronger thanks to new union business leavethat allows two stewards to handle grievances.

Watertown Strong!Congratulations to Phil DAgostino and BrockKennedy , 9-1-1 dispatchers from Watertown whoreceived awards from the National Emergency Number Association (Americas 9-1-1 association) whowere on duty to protect the people of Watertown and

the first responders at risk during the bombing andthe pursuit and capture of the Tsarnaev brothers afterthe Marathon bombing. The Watertown dispatchers,like their law enforcement and fire service colleagues,displayed the professionalism and passion that wascommon throughout the Boston area.

DAgostino and Kennedy attended NENAs national9-1-1 conference in Charlotte in mid-June to receivesome much deserved national recognition for the finework of the Watertown dispatchers.

Everett Parking PersonnelMeter maids and parking enforcement members inEverett have ratified a new one year contract that runsfrom July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. Raises were1.5% on July 1 and 2% on last day of the contract.

Members also won a $50 increase in their yearly uniform allowance to a total of $650. Their healthinsurance stipends (for members opting out of city provided insurance) increased from $1,500 to $2,000.Longevity stipends were also increased substantially.If other non-school municipal unions get betterwage increases, members are protected with a wagereopener.

Stay in the loop andup-to-date by likingLocal 888 on Facebook.Find us at:www.facebook.com/

SEIULocal888

Watertown dispatchers Brock Kennedy and PhilDAgostino receiving an award from the NationalEmergency Number Association.

Brandeis librarians Jim Rosenbloom, Judith Tinnolisand Thomas Valicenti.
http://www.seiu888.org/http://www.facebook.com/SEIULocal888http://www.facebook.com/SEIULocal888http://www.facebook.com/SEIULocal888http://www.seiu888.org/

Documents

SEIU Local 888 Spark, July 2013