Why I'm with the union
By Maydad Cohen - Wednesday May 28 2008 (Download the PDF of this article from the Jewish Advocate)

The May 16 Jewish Advocate featured on its cover a picture of members of the Jewish Labor Committee and Workmen’s Circle supporting 1199SEIU’s (Service Employees International Union) May 8 rally in support of hospital workers trying to organize a union at their hospital.

I was one of those photographed. The caption under the photo was “We’re sticking with the union.” I’m writing now to tell you why I am in support of the Union and these workers.

My parents always taught me to respect all workers. Our religion commands us to treat workers with dignity and respect. Our Jewish history tells us of immigrant Jews who helped shape the labor movement in the U.S. For these reasons I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for the rights of workers.

The campaign to support heath care workers in Boston is about dignity and respect for hospital workers, who toil daily as lab technicians, food service workers, or custodians. They play an integral role in making patients comfortable and in providing the great patient care we have all come to expect in Boston hospitals.

These very workers, however, often do not make enough money to support their families. Many of them cannot even afford to send their own family members to the very hospitals in which they are employed. How does treating workers in such a fashion demonstrate dignity and respect?

This campaign is also about seeking a fair election, free from coercion and intimidation from the hospitals. Studies have consistently shown that a majority of employees would, if given the opportunity, join a union. Not surprisingly, when employers are allowed to intimidate and spread fear or misinformation among workers, the workers’ ability to organize is considerably hindered.

After all, the hospitals have instant access to their employees and hold their livelihood in their hands. Many companies use this leverage to instill fear into workers and intimidate workers into voting against a union. In light of this practice, 1199SEIU is merely seeking a promise by the hospital for true neutrality.

For example, the union seeks an agreement with the hospitals which would allow workers to openly discuss the union drive and provide the union with equal access to the employees to discuss unionization. The fact that the hospitals have so far rejected such reasonable offers leads one to question their motives for doing so.

This is especially true in light of the fact that other Boston hospitals have agreed to similar terms. Let the workers decide for themselves whether they choose to be organized and represented by the union and let them choose free from employer coercion and intimidation.

As a member of the Jewish Labor Committee, therefore, I firmly support and stand with these hospital workers. These workers have my respect for the work they perform and the vital role they play in providing patient care.

They now deserve dignity at work, good wages, retirement benefits and the right to be represented by a union of their choosing. For all these reasons, and many more, I am happy to state that I’ll be sticking with the union for a long time to come.

Maydad Cohen is an attorney and member of the New England Jewish Labor Committee.

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Hundreds of union and non-union hospital workers and their supporters rallied on Thursday, May 8 in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston for the free and fair union elections for all Boston hospital workers. Following previous heavily publicized endorsements from Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston City Council, and Ben Affleck, hospital workers received another major boost at Thursday's event from national recording artists Dropkick Murphys, who performed at the rally to show their support. The Area Trades Council, the Greater Labor Council, IBEW 103 and other local unions joined the rally as well.

Historically, Boston hospital administrators have spent scarce patient care dollars on fear and intimidation campiagns against their own staff when they have tried to form unions in the past. Hospital workers and their supporters are now urging Massachusetts hospital employers to commit to a free and fair union election code of conduct, under which caregivers would be free to mkae up their own minds about forming a union, free from management intimidation and coercion, under fair secret ballot voting conditions.

• View a slideshow below of photos from the day (Flash required):

Dropkick Murphys, one of Boston's most popular bands, whose songs are best known in Massachusetts as the soundtrack to the Boston Redsox World Series victory drives, played for caregivers from all area hospitals. Rallying under the slogan, "Be fair to those who care," Boston caregivers hope to join together with 1199SEIU to improve not only their own lives, but the quality of care for patients as well.

• Read coverage by the Boston Herald (PDF)
• Read coverage by the Boston Metro (PDF)
• Read coverage by the Boston Globe White Coat Notes (PDF)
• See photo by the Jewish Advocate (PDF)
• Read article on Open Media Boston
• Watch news coverge by NECN:

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On April 8, hospital workers joined 1199SEIU members to distribute free scorecards outside a crowded Fenway Park on Red Sox opening day. The scorecards explained why Boston hospital workers are coming together for free and fair union elections, and were well-received by Sox fans.

This ad ran on April 4 and April 7, 2008 in the Boston Herald and on April 8, 2008 in Boston Now.

"I am a former skilled maintenance employee of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. During my job interview, I was asked if I had ever been in a union. The director explained BIDMC is a non-union hospital. He made it obvious then and most days after that he didn't want employees who would think of joining together as a union. He told me BIDMC takes care of their own.

Eventually, my co-workers and I got tired of being mistreated, and decided we needed a voice at work to improve our jobs and make the hospital a better place for patients. When our managers found out, they hit us with a campaign of intimidation and misinformation. They had private one-on-one meetings to tell us what would happen if we supported unionizing. They said if we voted to unionize they’d replace us with outside contractors. In my case, my director reminded me that my children wouldn't have insurance if I lost my job.

"I was proud of my hospital -- until they treated their own workers as enemies."

I left the Beth Israel Deaconess, because no one needs to be treated like that. Now, I am happy to be a member of 1199SEIU at another hospital, where workers can count on being treated with dignity and respect. I'm no longer told that I'm a worker at will.

It bothers me to know that my friends at BIDMC still don't have the protection they deserve. I am working to make sure that what was done to me and my co-workers never happens again to any hospital worker. My experience is too common. That's why Massachusetts hospital workers are calling for Free and Fair union elections.

Hospital executives should agree to a code of conduct guaranteeing that workers will be Free to make up our own minds, in a Fair secret ballot vote. That way, management won't treat hospital workers as enemies in our own hospitals. It's a better way for our patients, and it's the only decent way to treat people."

- ANTHONY PATTI, Former Beth Israel Deaconess Employee
(Sponsored by 1199SEIU and the Area Trades Council)

• View clip from the Boston Herald (PDF)
• View clip from Boston Now (PDF)

On Thursday, February 28, non-union hospital workers joined 1199SEIU to leaflet in and around Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, talking to workers about Free and Fair union elections.

SEIU Healthcare Workers Appeal During Super Bowl for Free and Fair Union Elections in Boston Hospitals

 

While the Patriots took on the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, Massachusetts healthcare workers took on the hospital CEOs trying to prevent them from voting freely in fair secret ballot elections to form unions. During Sunday's game, Boston hospital workers took to the airwaves in their efforts to unite for a voice in protecting patient care and improving jobs for working families.

As a Super Bowl and New England Patriots sponsor on CBS radio affiliate WBCN, the healthcare workers of 1199SEIU raised awareness during 10- and 30-second spots that free and fair union elections for hospital staff mean better care and good jobs for the whole community.

Hospital management has sometimes waged expensive campaigns of fear and intimidation against Boston caregivers who have tried to form unions in the past.

"Everybody's talking about the presidential campaign, but what if your boss told you how to vote and who to vote for?" the ad asks. "What if your boss could fire you if you didn't vote their way?"

The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU were also the exclusive sponsor of injury reports and injury updates throughout the broadcast.

"This was a chance for us to tell our story,” says Jason Depina, a lab technician at a Boston hospital and a Pats fan. “As people listened in to learn about the health of their favorite Patriot players, we got the chance to ask them to support the people who take care of their health and who deserve a fair shot to form a union."

TO HEAR THE ADS, CLICK HERE.

"I've worked as a Nursing Assistant and Patient Care Technician for over 25 years in some of Boston’s best teaching hospitals. It's only fair to pay those who care. Nursing assistants and patient care techs play a major and key role in the care of patients. Working in the department of nursing should automatically quality us for some of the benefits that the nurses receive. For example, safe staffing levels, and by all means an increase in our wages. With my years of experience I should be making at least $20 an hour. I believe that 1199 will see us through and we will get free and fair union elections."

- Cynthia Bates, St. Elizabeth’s Worker

I have worked at Brigham and Women’s for many years. One time, a patient got upset with me for some reason and went to punch me. I hit the panic button and security never arrived. I paged my supervisor and she called me back three hours later! I recently went to a rally run by a Sunday school group who were supportive of the hospital workers having Free and Fair union elections in the Boston hospitals. The children gathered in front of the hospital to sing songs. Security arrived to remove them. Security will show up to stop us from having a voice on the job and to protect the hospital’s public image but not to protect their employees’ safety. That is just wrong."

- From an anonymous Brigham and Women's employee

Heating or eating is no choice. It's just wrong that so many people in Massachusetts have to choose between heating, eating or paying for healthcare. Something is really wrong when healthcare workers at some of the most prestigious hospitals in the world also face that choice. That's one of the many reasons workers are coming together to form a union -- to win decent pay and benefits for all Massachusetts hospital caregivers.

In the meantime, please share this information with friends and co-workers who might find it helpful.
Heating assistance is available through the following programs:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides income-eligible households with help in paying winter heating bills. Apply to your local administering agency for help paying oil, propane, wood, coal, gas or electric bills. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) assists low-income households in maximizing the energy efficiency of their homes. This year-round program identifies and remedies sealing, insulating, and health and safety problems in apartments and houses at no cost to the household.

Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program provides heating system repair and replacement services to low-income homeowners. Tenants in need of repairs must contact their landlords who are legally responsible for the maintenance of their heating systems.

To access the three programs above, call Action for Boston Community Development at 617-357-6012 if you live in the Boston area, or Mass. Community Services Unit at 617-573-1400 if you live outside the Boston area.

Citizen’s Energy Oil Heat Program provides heating assistance to eligible households. Call 877-JOE-4-OIL (877-563-4645) to apply, or visit www.citizensenergy.com. The deadline is February 29, 2008.

Citizen’s Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program helps households struggling to pay their natural gas heating bills. The program makes payments on behalf of the household directly. Call 866-GAS-9918 (866-427-9918) to request an application, or visit www.citizensenergy.com.

Dear Co-workers,

Here’s to a new year with new hope. 

• Hope for a new relationship between hospital workers and management, where our contribution to patient care is respected;
• Hope for they day we will bargain as a union to improve living conditions knowing that we are paid wages that respect the value of our work;
• Hope that we have affordable healthcare for ourselves and our families;
• Hope that we will be able to retire with financial security;
• That we have access to training to move up a career ladder;
• And hope that no hospital worker ever again has to choose between paying for heat or food or healthcare.

Let this be the year that every Massachusetts hospital CEO makes the commitment to a Free and Fair Code of Conduct, where workers will be free to join together as a union, free from management intimidation, under fair secret ballot voting conditions.

We're so proud that we can start the year by looking at one another and saying, "You can count on me. We’re here for each other."

In Solidarity,
The Massachusetts Hospital Organizing Committee

Article reposted from The Jewish Advocate

Jewish codes of conduct
by Ben Healey - Monday 17 December 2007

Last month, I wrote that the Jewish tradition of social justice – not to mention a universalistic approach to human rights – demands that we respect workers’ right to choose whether or not to join a union, on their own, without fear of retaliation from their bosses. Furthermore, I called out Paul Levy, a community leader and head of Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, for his vocal opposition to one union’s attempt to organize his hospital, suggesting that he is acting out of accordance with that tradition.

As it is said: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). In the case of a union organizing campaign, this could not be more true – with the tongues in question belonging to powerful hospital executives and management more broadly. If those in power in the workplace verbally campaign against unionization, then workers who want to organize will undoubtedly feel that their efforts come at the risk of their jobs, their income, their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Mr. Levy did respond to my earlier piece, but only by quoting his unilateral, unenforceable code of conduct as proof that he was going to let his employees choose for themselves. But as any high school debater worth his salt can tell you, one well-worded statement does not unmake a history of negative action. For example: a few years ago the BIDMC, under Mr. Levy’s direction, ran a scorched-earth campaign against skilled maintenance workers who were trying to form a union. Furthermore, the hospital has put on retainer one of the most notorious union-busting law firms in the country (Foley & Lardner) and has recently appointed one of its partners to its CareGroup Board. And in his very own blog postings, Mr. Levy has sought to obfuscate the fact that he is committed to using hospital dollars to fund anti-union activities by refusing to state simply, “The BIDMC will not use patient care dollars – or any dollars, for that matter – to stop our employees from exercising their own free choice.” Nonetheless, I do agree with Mr. Levy on one central point – a code of conduct is necessary.

In fact, the union seeking to organize the hospital – 1199SEIU – has asked that the management of Boston’s not-yet-union hospitals agree to just that: a Free and Fair Election Code of Conduct – free for workers to make up their own minds, under fair secret ballot voting conditions.

Mr. Levy’s code would allow managers to campaign anywhere and anytime, on work time, to influence caregivers’ votes, and gives managers full reign to take workers away from the bedside in their efforts to do so. That’s not a recipe for an evenhanded election process. It is a stacked deck. One of the overriding themes of our tradition is the centrality of dialogue – from Moses’ back-and-forth with God to the Talmudic rabbis and on down to today. We don’t solve problems in the Jewish community by fiat. Rather than acting unilaterally, BIDMC administrators need to sit down with 1199SEIU and work out a process that both sides can agree is free and fair, so that employees can choose for themselves.

Ben Healey is a co-coordinator of the Moishe/Kavod Jewish Social Justice House and on the board of the New England Jewish-Labor Committee. He can be reached at benjaminghealey@gmail.com.