Posted on Nov 15, 2023
Places for People workers call for company support in unionization efforts
463
4
1
3
3
0
About two dozen union-organizing employees from Places for People and allies gathered Monday outside the company’s office in Soulard — they were hoping to speak with the company’s board of leaders as they entered the building for a meeting.
It was a vigil-themed event. Workers lit several candles in a show of peace toward company leadership.
But company leadership never showed up, at least not near the entrance of the building where organizers stood on Monday. Since July, workers have been organizing with plans to ultimately become a certified local under SEIU Healthcare, a labor union that represents more than 90,000 health care and child care workers across the country.
In a letter circulated on Monday, which currently has over 200 signatures, workers appealed to the company’s board members to join them in the fight against “a broken system.”
“We recognize the pressures you face from state and federal agencies and other funding sources in a broader culture of austerity and systematic inequality,” the letter reads. “We understand that managing the significant growth our agency has seen in recent years is a complex task with imperfect results.
“We can become leaders among organizations like ours grappling with similar challenges, if worker voice is united with executive leadership.”
It was a vigil-themed event. Workers lit several candles in a show of peace toward company leadership.
But company leadership never showed up, at least not near the entrance of the building where organizers stood on Monday. Since July, workers have been organizing with plans to ultimately become a certified local under SEIU Healthcare, a labor union that represents more than 90,000 health care and child care workers across the country.
In a letter circulated on Monday, which currently has over 200 signatures, workers appealed to the company’s board members to join them in the fight against “a broken system.”
“We recognize the pressures you face from state and federal agencies and other funding sources in a broader culture of austerity and systematic inequality,” the letter reads. “We understand that managing the significant growth our agency has seen in recent years is a complex task with imperfect results.
“We can become leaders among organizations like ours grappling with similar challenges, if worker voice is united with executive leadership.”
Places for People workers call for company support in unionization efforts
Posted from stlpr.org
Unions
Leadership
Medical
Health
Equality
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 1
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel typical Company snub... should help the Union Organizing efforts...
..."Laura McCallister, chief executive officer of Places for People, in an emailed statement acknowledged the staff is considering a vote to unionize.
“Taking care of our staff as they do their critical work is our focus during the ongoing mental health crisis which has strained our mental health care system and care providers,” McCallister said. “If our employees vote to form a union, Places for People is prepared to bargain in good faith.”
In the letter, workers also called on management for a fair and open unionizing process, free from retaliation and harassment, which they say they’ve experienced since they began organizing efforts in July. They accuse management of dissuading workers from participating in unionizing efforts.
The organizing workers have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.
Danielle Kimbrel, an outpatient therapist who has been with the nonprofit for four years, said workers have three main priorities.
“We are asking the board for a neutrality space to have conversations with our coworkers to keep them informed and get their voices heard, no matter if they’re supportive or not, without repercussions,” Kimbrel said. “We are asking them to stop covertly union busting, which they have continued to do despite their overt union busting discontinuing."
“And we are asking for them to support the process of a free and fair election," she said."...
..."Laura McCallister, chief executive officer of Places for People, in an emailed statement acknowledged the staff is considering a vote to unionize.
“Taking care of our staff as they do their critical work is our focus during the ongoing mental health crisis which has strained our mental health care system and care providers,” McCallister said. “If our employees vote to form a union, Places for People is prepared to bargain in good faith.”
In the letter, workers also called on management for a fair and open unionizing process, free from retaliation and harassment, which they say they’ve experienced since they began organizing efforts in July. They accuse management of dissuading workers from participating in unionizing efforts.
The organizing workers have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.
Danielle Kimbrel, an outpatient therapist who has been with the nonprofit for four years, said workers have three main priorities.
“We are asking the board for a neutrality space to have conversations with our coworkers to keep them informed and get their voices heard, no matter if they’re supportive or not, without repercussions,” Kimbrel said. “We are asking them to stop covertly union busting, which they have continued to do despite their overt union busting discontinuing."
“And we are asking for them to support the process of a free and fair election," she said."...
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google