Community Delegation Asks Barbara Wale to Respect Workers Rights
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Yesterday a delegation of workers, community leaders, faith leaders and representatives from state and federal government attempted to meet with Barbara Wale the CEO of Arc of Monroe County at the headquarters. They were there to deliver over 150 letters from elected officials, community leaders, religious leaders and residents of Monroe County who want Barbara to refrain from interfering with workers’ rights to form a union. People who have shown their support by sending a letter include: State Senator Joe Robach, State Senator James Alesi, Assemblyman Joe Morelle, Assemblyman Harry Bronson, Assemblyman David Gantt, Members of the Monroe County Legislature, Members of the Rochester City Council, Citizen Action, Greater Rochester Community of Churches, Rochester Interfaith Alliance and over 150 residents of Monroe County.
Unfortunately, rather than listen to the community, the Arc of Monroe is listening to high paid union busters from out of state. Arc of Monroe management not only refused to meet with the community leaders they would not even accept the letters!
More than twenty community members,
faith leaders and representatives from state and federal government
joined with workers from Monroe ARC today at the organization’s
headquarters to deliver over 150 signed letters from organizations,
individuals and elected officials. The letters call on Monroe ARC CEO
Barbara Wale to respect workers’ freedom to form a union.
“I came because I am supportive of what the union is trying to do and
I’m very upset about the union busters who are drawing so much money
and then preventing poor people, poor workers, who need money from
getting their just due. I think it’s a terrible injustice,” said
Sister Grace Miller.
The group was met at the door by administration officials who refused
to accept the letters or talk to any of the group’s members. Moments
later, Brighton Police arrived at the scene. Members of the group
included two nuns from the Sisters of Mercy, President of the Greater
Rochester Community of Churches, Faith in Action Network, Metro
Justice, Working Families Party, Citizens Action, and Rochester and
Genesee Valley Labor Federation.
Recently, Monroe ARC hired Permanent Solutions, Labor Consultants,
Inc., a union avoidance firm based in Michigan. The firm charges
thousands of dollars a day for their services to scare, pressure and
persuade workers not to vote for union representation. Monroe ARC is a
98% publicly funded agency, relying on Medicaid dollars to operate
their business. Letters were also signed from elected officials
asking the agency not to use tax payer dollars to fight the workers in
their organizing efforts.
“If the agency has tens of thousands of dollars to spend on a union
avoidance firm, then they should be using that tax payer money on the
clients they serve and the workers who care for them. Paying workers
$8.00-$9.00 per hour with no benefits is appalling, and is not how our
tax dollars should be spent. If they are not using taxpayer dollars,
then they are using community donations to their foundation, and that
is just plain wrong”, said Jerry Dennis, President of SEIU Local
200United.
Monroe ARC workers are working together to form a union with SEIU
Local 200United and the National Labor Relations Board will schedule
an election soon.
You can support workers' rights at The Arc of Monroe by taking action right now.
Can you call Barbara Wale and ask her why she refused to meet with the community?
Her phone number is: 585-672-2233
Sample Script:
As a member of the community, I support your employees’ rights to form a union. Please stop your anti-union campaign of fear and intimidation. It’s bad for the individuals you serve, it’s bad for your workers, and it’s bad for our community. You must allow your workers to decide in peace whether or not to form a union.
After you’ve made the call click here to let us know how it went.