Dispatchers seek fairness in pensions
June 30, 2021
Boston Police dispatchers, a Local 888 chapter, were on the frontlines as the pandemic hit. Now the chapter is hoping members’ service will be remembered at the State House this year.

Boston Police dispatchers, a Local 888 chapter, were on the frontlines as the pandemic hit. Now the chapter is hoping members’ service will be remembered at the State House this year.
The has OK'd a $400 million plan to construct a new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. However, some of the same issues that contributed to the COVID-19 disaster there, which killed over 76 veterans, still must be resolved.
Local 888 members in the production and distribution area at the Massachusetts State Lottery, about 16 people, were recently honored for being essential workers during the pandemic.
The Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, which Local 888 is a member of, has kicked off the campaign to get voters to approve the Fair Share Amendment, sometimes known as the millionaire’s tax.
Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition backed by Local 888, has successfully campaigned to get all Massachusetts workers covered by Emergency Paid Sick Time. That includes municipal workers, who Gov. Charlie Baker had sought to exclude.
SEIU Local 888 has picked three $500 scholarship winners through a lottery.
Moment of Silence
Local 888 is looking to increase membership to win better contracts. A workshop on the upcoming campaign is set for Thursday, July 15.
MEMBER WELCOME ORIENTATION: A 45-minute Zoom workshop is generally held the second Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Local 888 members, leaders and staff Zoomed in for the swearing-in ceremony for the union’s top officers, trustees and executive board members, as Tom McKeever took the reins at the union.
Local 888’s outgoing president, Brenda Rodrigues, was feted at a Zoom retirement event — which was attended by members, public officials and labor leaders.
GET THE SCOOP: The Spark newsletter for April shines a spotlight on: * The election of Tom McKeever as Local 888's president. * A candlelight vigil held at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home to recall the lives lost to the COVID-19 outbreak. * The Emerson chapter's digital age show of solidarity. See The Spark stories that follow on the website..
Brockton schools and the cafeteria workers reached an agreement as the district gets ready to return all students to in-person learning, full time.
Union members at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home organized a March 30 candlelight vigil to remember the tragedy that struck the residential facility one year ago.
Rachel Scotch, president of the MassDefenders, talked up the importance of collective bargaining at the North Shore Labor Council’s annual Legislative Breakfast.
Local 888’s Emerson College chapter used a “Staff Forum” to stage an online show of solidarity.
The COVID-19 crisis has brought increased stress and hardship to workers in Massachusetts — along with increased fears of having budgets, services and jobs cut.
Gov. Baker has sent Emergency Paid Sick Time legislation back to the State House with negative amendments. These include one that would exclude municipal workers.