Agenda Summary
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In support of voluntary recognition for Somerville Workers United.
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Official Text
WHEREAS: This City Council and Mayor Wilson regularly and proudly proclaim their support for labor unions as critical to workplace and economic justice; and
WHEREAS: This City Council is grateful for the dedicated public service of City of Somerville employees, and the positive impact their efforts have on the lives of all Somervillians; and
WHEREAS: More than two hundred city employees across roughly twenty-seven departments and divisions do not currently benefit from union representation and as a result are not afforded a seat at the bargaining table to negotiate aspects of their compensation and working conditions; and
WHEREAS: All staff deserve the respect and dignity of clear policies and expectations, and workplace conditions that allow staff to provide high-quality services for all of our residents; and
WHEREAS: Following the initiation of Somerville’s “Non-Union Compensation Study” under the Ballantyne administration, certain professional city staff organized under the name Somerville Workers United (“SWU”); and
WHEREAS: Several significant policy changes that affect staff pay, benefits, and working conditions have been implemented across administrations without meaningful feedback from or partnership with impacted staff, such as the Non-Union Compensation Study, departmental restructuring plans and changing citywide remote work policies; and
WHEREAS: Union representation would help address conditions that have led to significant employee turnover in multiple critical departments, which has in turn led to loss of institutional knowledge and increased workload for remaining staff; and
WHEREAS: Union representation would also improve communication and partnership to address important issues such as multi-lingual pay incentives and support for employment based immigration; and
WHEREAS: Through the efforts of SWU, over fifty percent o...
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