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2017 Highlights for SEIU Local 888

December 8, 2017

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Jan. 3  A Hero Among Us. Longtime BCYF Streetworker Anthony Meeks was honored at a Boston Celtics game with the "Hero   Among Us" award.

Jan. 17  Tree Warden of the Year. Local 888 member and Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward was honored as the Massachusetts 2017 Tree Warden of the Year.

Jan.  Brockton Cafeteria workers win big raises and a new three-year contract ratified by 85 percent membership approval.

Jan. 22 Boston Women's March. Local 888 members join tens of thousands on Boston Common in solidarity with communities most affected by the hate, intolerance and acts of violence.

Jan. 23 Just Cause Victory. An arbitrator ruled that Chelsea Soldiers Home management did not have "just cause" to fire Local 888 member Teressa Krupien and ruled that she should be returned to work and her income restored.

Jan. 24 Suffolk University staff petition the NLRB to form a union with SEIU Local 888. The board sets the representation election for March 2.

Jan. 27 Local 888's Latino Caucus hosted a political event honoring Alex Padilla, California's Secretary of State.

Feb 1 Thank you Mike. Longtime Local 888 member, COPA Committee activist, and Executive Board member Mike Kelly retires after 42 years at the Mass Lottery.

March 2 Suffolk Univ. staff union vote inconclusive. 71 Suffolk Univ. staff for voted "yes" for SEIU Local 888 and 80 voted for no union. However, 56 challenged ballots that were not counted could determine the outcome of the election and must be resolved before workers will know the final result.

March Majority of Senators and Reps co-sponsor bill for public defenders' organizing rights. Bipartisan support now includes 139 members of the legislature (113 out of 160 members in the House, and 26 out of 40 in the Senate).

March Tyngsborough Administrative Assistants ratified a new contract.

April Thank you Gail. After many years of dedicated service, Gail Silva from Westborough stepped down from the Local 888 Executive Board.

April 19 CPCS Lobby Day. Public defenders and staff meet with their Representatives and Senators to support their union rights.

April 25 Member speaks out for paid family leave. Upset by a recent Boston Globe article where the city's top management claimed that it couldn't provide paid family leave because of union collective bargaining agreements, Boston Water & Sewer employee Damali Simmonds' letter was published in Boston Globe.

May 1 International worker's day. Members of Local 888 marched in communities across Massachusetts in support of International Workers Day and in solidarity with immigrants who are under attack.

May 9  Public defenders testify for right to collectively bargain. For the fifth year in a row, staff at the Committee on Public Counsel Services (CPCS) testified at a State House hearing in support of legislation for collective bargaining rights.

May 17 Thank you Frank. Westwood Town Hall Local 888 member Frank Chillemi retired and resigned from the local's Executive Board.

May 20 Rally for public education! Local 888 leaders and staff joined thousands of teachers and school support personnel for an Education Justice Alliance rally on the Boston Common against efforts by Trump, DeVos, Baker and Peyser to gut our public education system.

May 23 COPA endorses Local 888 member Stephen Winslow for Malden City Council.

May 24 Together We Rise. SEIU leaders attend national strategy session in Chicago in anticipation of a Supreme Court ruling allowing non-members to opt-out of paying fair share fees.

June 12 Local 888 takes public defenders' case to Senate President. Local 888 President Mark DelloRusso met with State Senate President Stan Rosenberg regarding collective bargaining rights for public defenders and staff who work for CPCS.

June 13 Campaign for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Boston Water & Sewer member Damali Simmonds testified at a statehouse hearing in support of legislation to create comprehensive paid family and medical leave program.

June 28 Somerville Slate. COPA members voted unanimously to support incumbent Alderman Matt McLaughlin for Ward 1, challenger JT Scott for Alderman Ward 2, challenger Ben Ewen-Campen for Alderman Ward 3, NAGE member Jesse Clingan for an open seat in Ward 4.

June 29 Lydia Edwards got strong support from SEIU Local 888, SEIU Local 32bj and the Boston Teachers Union on June 29.

July 12 Head Start member leads campaign for Fair Trade. Jonathan Dudley organized a meeting in Gardner for Central Mass residents to share their experiences and learn more about how NAFTA has impacted their communities.

Sept. 4 Local 888 "all in" for Labor Day and the fight for $15. Members of SEIU Local 888 joined a national day of action on Labor Day, standing up with fast food workers and other working people fighting for a better life. In addition to the rally in Boston, Local 888 had an information tent on Campagnon Common at the Bread & Roses Heritage Festival in Lawrence.

Sept. 6 Mendon Upton ABAs and Paras win new contract. Mendon Upton regional school district ABAs and Paras ratified a new three-year contract with 80% support.

Sept. 19 Union candidate Paul Feeney wins Dem Primary for state senate seat.

Oct. 4 Together We Rise. In anticipation of the Supreme Court decision, Local 888 leaders begin regional Chapter Chair Leadership trainings to prepare members for the impact of the decision and exploring innovative ways to keep our union strong.

Oct. 4 A Tie at Suffolk Univ. After resolving the challenged votes, the final tally was 96 votes in favor of a union to 96 votes against. Unfortunately, a tie goes to the boss.

Oct. 14 Hockey Night Social. UMass Lowell members held their fifth annual Local 888 Hockey Night on at the Tsongas Arena.

Oct. 18 Emerson staff protest low wages. Emerson College staff leafleted outside the Emerson College Board of Directors meeting to protest their low pay and frustration with the slow pace of negotiations.

Oct. 31 Pension reclassification bills. Members representing Emergency 911, nuclear reactor operators and veteran caregivers came out to testify in support of pension upgrade bills before the Joint Committee on Public Service.

Nov. 1 Together We Rise training at UMass Lowell.

Nov. 7 Election results. Steven Winslow, SEIU Local 888 member at Gloucester Department Heads, won City Council At-large seat in Malden. In Somerville, all four Local 888 endorsed candidates won their seats for Board of Aldermen. Khrystian King, SEIU Local 509 member of DCF, successfully defended his City Council At-large seat in Worcester.

Nov. 9 Together We Rise training at Brockton Public Library

Nov. 13 Public Defenders held "walk-in" actions at district courts a