The crossing guards held a meeting at 10:00 a.m. at the Central Library to discuss their concerns and what they hoped to achieve from a first contract.  Many at the meeting complained that they had not seen an increase in their hourly wages in over 13 years.  Others noted that many school and city workers were provided with a clothing allowance or boots and jackets for outdoor work during the cold winter days and inclement weather. Several crossing guards said they would like the opportunity to move up and apply for supervisory positions.

“The bottom line is we want respect for the work we do,” said Crossing Guard Helen Brown. “I’ve been guarding our school children for 12 years.  I’m a Flyer.  That means I go where they need me.  I’ve worked on every corner of this city and I’ve never received a raise, a vacation day, sick time when I’m ill, or bereavement leave when I lose a family member.  But I’m out there every school day, in the snow, rain and sun making sure our kids are safe.  It’s time for a little respect and that’s what the union is for.”

After the crossing guards voted to seek their union certification, a dozen volunteered to serve on the union negotiation and contract action teams. Immediately following the meeting a delegation of crossing guards went to the state DLR offices on Liberty Street and filed paperwork to certify their union with cards signed by over 60% of the workers.

The Local will elect a President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, eighteen (18) Executive Board Members and three (3) Trustees.

The official nominating petition(s) shall be signed by at least fifty (50) Regular Members in good standing for all at-large positions: President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Board Members, and Trustees. Petitions must be postmarked or received at the SEIU Local 888 office at 52 Roland St, Charlestown, MA 02129 by 5:00 PM on February 21, 2012.

Candidate statements will be mailed to the last known home mailing address as of February 1, 2012 no later than March 6, 2011.  Ballots will be mailed to the last known home mailing address as of February 1, 2012 no later than March 20, 2011.

Ballots must be received (not postmarked) at the SEIU Local 888 office at 52 Roland St, Charlestown, MA 02129 by 5:00 PM on April 11, 2012. Ballots will be counted on April 12, 2012.

The Local has a three person Election Committee that will conduct the affairs of the election in accordance with the Local and International Union Constitutions and applicable law. They will establish safeguards to insure a fair and democratic election. They will validate the eligibility of candidates for office and act as initial judge in all matters arising from the election procedures, including post-election protests. The elections committee will approve the form of the ballots and tabulate and certify the results of the election.

Our election committee members are Art McCabe – Lawrence, Rachel Idowu – City of Boston, and Michael Nestor – Medford. Any questions, concerns, or protests should be sent in writing to the SEIU Local 888 Election Committee at 52 Roland Street, Charlestown, MA 02129 or emailed to elections@seiu888.org. More information regarding the proper conduct of a local union election can be found on our website at www.seiu888.org. You may also request a paper copy from the election committee.

If you wish to have your name placed in nomination and have it appear on the ballot for one of the positions below, you should request copies of the official nominating petition from the election committee or download the form from our website. A member cannot be nominated for more than one position at a time. The official nominating petition(s) shall be signed by at least fifty (50) Regular Members in good standing for all at-large positions: President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Board Members, and Trustees.

President: The President serves as the Local Union’s Chief Executive Officer on a full-time basis.  It shall be the President’s duty to administer the affairs of the Local Union and to implement the policies of the Local Union on a day-to-day basis.

Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Union with responsibilities for managing, maintaining, and reporting on the books and records of the union.

Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall keep a correct and accurate record of proceedings of all regular and special Executive Board and union-wide meetings of the Local, in coordination with the Local Union staff.

Executive Board Member: The Executive Board serves as the top policy body between union-wide conventions and shall have the authority to take such steps it determines are needed to insure that the Local shall be able to meet its obligations.

Trustee: The Trustees shall approve a yearly audit of the Local’s finances conducted by the accountants immediately following the close of each fiscal year, and at such other times as the President or the Executive Board shall deem necessary

No person shall be eligible for nomination as an Officer, member of the Executive Board or Trustee who has not been a member in continuous good standing for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the nominations and has during all of that time paid the full dues required for Regular Members of the Local Union on a timely basis. The International President may waive this provision in his/her discretion based on good cause shown.  Any such waiver shall be uniformly and equitably applied.  No member convicted of a felony as defined in Section 504 of the Landrum-Griffin Act within the last thirteen years shall be eligible to hold office in this Local Union.

Retired Members, Associate Members, or any member paying less than the full dues required for Regular Members of the Local Union shall not be eligible for nomination as an Officer, member of the Executive Board, Trustee, Chapter Chair, Steward or any other office in the Local Union. I

House Lead: Rep. Jim O’Day, Senate Lead: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz.
(SB1416 / HB2553)

THE PROBLEM: We are just emerging from the deepest Recession of our lifetimes. With the end of federal stimulus funding, we have a nearly $2 Billion budget deficit. That means our schools, Local Aid, and emergency and health care services face deep cuts this spring. Meanwhile, wealthy investors and high-income households have had their Bush-era tax cuts extended, worsening deficits and economic inequality.

THE SOLUTION: We need to invest in our communities and keep middle-class families working and earning! “An Act to Invest in Our Communities” (HD 2261/ SD 1012) does just that. While there will be substantial cuts in services this year, this bill takes a balanced approach to the fiscal crisis by raising revenue to maintain the services we need and value. By asking more from high income households and investors who received large windfalls from the Bush tax cuts, while raising the personal exemption as a way to hold down the tax increase for middle-class families, the bill raises needed revenue primarily from those who can best afford to pay. With that revenue, we can keep the quality schools and services that make our state a good place to live and do business.

WHAT THE BILL DOES: 1) Restores the income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.95%, but raises the personal exemption enough to hold down increases for middle-class families. 2) Raises the tax rate on wealthy investors, but provides a targeted exemption for middle-class seniors. 3) Raises revenue to maintain funding for our communities, schools and health care.

The graph below shows how the Act to Invest in Our Communities would raise approximately $1.2 billion dollars for public services in Massachusetts and where the money will come from:

The graph below shows the share of state and local taxes currently paid by Massachusetts residents and the how the Act to Invest in Our Communities would lower taxes on working families while making the richest pay their fair share:

(SEIU 888 Members Only!)

Dan Gallagher – dgallagher.dnd@cityofboston.gov

Chief Steward:

David West – dwest.dnd@cityofboston.gov

Stewards:

A&F:    Richard Krushnic – rkrushnic@gmail.com
OBD:    Steve Rumpler
NHD:    Christine O’Keefe
HBC:    Shay Allan, Lorraine Ruo – lruo.dnd@cityofboston.gov
REMS:  Barbara Fabiano
Central Ave:    Mary Beth Pavilonis – mbpavilonis@yahoo.com