Occupy Baltimore & DC and 1199: We Are All the 99 Percent

The delegates of 1199SEIU’s Maryland/DC region voted unanimously on October 19 to support Occupy Baltimore and Occupy DC, the local outposts of the global movement launched on Wall Street last month.

While some have complained that the movement lacks a clear message, representatives from the two Occupy groups stated it plainly, beginning their presentation to the delegates with a group chant of “We are the 99 percent!” Few slogans better capture the challenge confronting American workers today.

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After Hurricane Irene, Baltimore 1199er brings light to elderly residents in the dark

When Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc along the east coast last weekend, thousands of people lost electricity for days. Elderly residents at the Springwell Senior Living Community in Baltimore were hit especially hard. Luckily for them, 1199ers like Carolyn Taylor-Chester were on hand to provide care to residents without power.

Chester picked up extra shifts at the home in order to help the facility compensate for the lack of power. "My co-workers and I have been picking up extra shifts and doing the best we can to help out our residents."

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Baltimore Catholic Charities Betraying Its Values in St. Elizabeth’s Contract Talks

Catholic Charities of Baltimore – the owner of St. Elizabeth’s nursing home – says its values are respect, service, dignity, compassion and justice. But in ongoing contract talks with 1199 caregivers, Catholic Charities is not living up to those values

On June 30, St. Elizabeth’s 1199ers, with support from their union brothers and sisters from nearby facilities, staged a spirited informational picket in front of the home, bringing attention to the facility’s contract crisis and the threat to resident care.

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Summit Park Workers Unite to Win a Contract

With help from their 1199SEIU brothers and sisters, workers at Summit Park have won a contract after a year-long fight for better wages and better working conditions.

The contract was settled shortly after workers showed a united front during the second of two informational pickets. The picket held on May 4^th revealed to the community that the facility had been contaminated with asbestos and garnered coverage in the Catonsville Times and the Catonsville Patch.

Since the picket, management at Summit Park has been working with 1199 to ensure that the asbestos is being safely removed from the facility.

The new contract includes a number of significant victories for the workers:

• For the first time, Summit Park workers will be allowed to take one personal day.
• The workers will retroactive pay dating back to January 2011.
• A 6 percent wage increase will be applied over 3 years.

According to 1199 Vice President Antoinette Turner, “It is so inspiring to see workers come together to achieve these victories. During these tough economic times, workers want a solid pay increase and retroactive pay, and they got those things because of their efforts.”

According to Donta Marshall, a GNA at the home and an 1199 delegate, “Winning this contract means so much to us because our voice has been heard and it shows that there is really power in numbers.” She adds, “In this economy, it really is a blessing to earn a decent wage increase and receive our retroactive pay – I know it will go a long way for me in covering my day-to-day expenses.”

Mayor’s Hard Work for a Healthy Baltimore Wins Endorsement from 1199’s Healthcare Workers

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was joined by close to one hundred healthcare workers from across Baltimore at the historic Eubie Blake Cultural Center to receive their endorsement in the race for Baltimore City Mayor. Surrounded by Maryland General Hospital workers in scrubs and Ravenwood Nursing Home workers in SEIU purple, a smiling Rawlings-Blake said she planned to ride the "purple tide" to victory.

"Our members have voted to endorse Stephanie Rawlings-Blake because no one has worked harder to build a healthy Baltimore," said John Reid, executive vice president of 1199SEIU, Baltimore’s healthcare union. "As a city council member, as council president and now as mayor, she’s fought tirelessly for quality healthcare - and for quality healthcare jobs. By helping caregivers to win a voice for our patients and a better life for our families, she’s helping to improve the quality of life for everyone in Baltimore."

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