Why unionize?
Currently, Covenant House leadership has the power to decide everything - what we are paid, what benefits we have, how we are (mis)treated, and so on. As individual employees, there is little we can do.
Balance.
Together, in a federally recognized and protected union, we have much more power. We collectively decide what we are willing to accept and what we are not.
Respect.
When we have each other’s backs, and with the law on our side, we can effectively demand the wages, benefits, protections, and respect we deserve.
Mutual Support.
We, CHNY staff, are ‘the union.’ We may be affiliated with, and supported by, 1199SEIU, but we make our own decisions about issues that affect us together.
Next Steps:
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We need to come together as a staff. That means your connecting with staff organizers or becoming one yourself!
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We are likely to hear a lot about unions in the coming weeks and months - some of it contradictory and confusing. Get your information from a coworker who shares your interests.
We also need to learn from you - what you want to change, what your priorities are, and what support you need.
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When everyone has had a chance to be heard and feels ready, we sign union authorization cards. Those cards authorize our union to negotiate on our behalf.
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Our union authorization cards go to leadership first, giving them the chance to do the right thing and accept our union. If they decline, we submit our cards to the feds who will look them over and order a vote.
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On a date set by the feds, we vote! A simple majority wins!
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Once we win, and we will win, we can elect some of our colleagues to represent us at the negotiating table. Supported by 1199SEIU lawyers, we hash out a contract with leadership.
Once there’s tentative agreement, we all vote again to either accept or reject our contract.
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With a more equal say, we work together with leadership to make CHNY the place that we, and our residents, deserve.
We got this.
Are you with us? Want to know more? Share the below information and one of us will get back to you with what has happened, what to expect, and what we need to do!