Community Programs (CT)
School and group home workers who serve troubled youth near Manchester, CT at New Hope Manor voted overwhelmingly to form their union with SEIU Healthcare 1199NE on January 25 – with 85% of employees voting YES for the union. In total, 85 employees united together across several different worksites at New Hope Manor: a school, six group homes for girls, and a seventh home for boys.
“In my five years at New Hope Manor I’ve seen good workers who truly cared for the kids fired for no reason. Turnover is very high. The CEO promised improvements but they never came through. We had an election and won overwhelmingly! That showed us that by sticking together, working hard for our rights, and trusting in one another, we can win!” said Monica Sanders as workers celebrated the victory.
May Institute Group Home Workers Organize with 1199
As new 1199 members, workers at the May Institute are preparing to negotiate their first contract.
In September 2011, workers at the May Institute, a group home agency for the developmentally disabled, won their union election 66 to 18. They are now getting ready for negotiations by conducting surveys among their co-workers to determine what the most important issues are to resolve – including wages (many workers make $10.50/hr, and they have gone without a raise for 4 years) and health care costs.