News
Leading Edge
Thirty-six pages of paper are what Tim Jenkins, business agent with Local 856 in San Bruno, Calif., refers to as “my dream contract.” The workers who ratified the contract at San Francisco’s Edgewood Center for Children and Families agree. The difference that a year can make is evident.
When the members at Edgewood who work with some of the most emotionally challenged children in the Bay Area decided to organize, they were met with strong resistance from their anti-union, anti-worker management. They persevered and joined the Teamsters in May 2015.
When negotiations for a contract began, the agency had a new CEO and leadership, and the tone took a dramatic shift. Management, Local 856 and the workers’ bargaining committee worked proactively to put together a strong first contract for the 140 members.
The three-year agreement includes an immediate average wage increase of 15 percent; a fair and transparent wage scale, with benefits; a clear path to promotions; tuition reimbursement; education incentives; enhanced trainings and more.
The agreement is written in plain language, so that anyone, not just a lawyer, can understand it.
“These Teamsters who care for the most vulnerable members of our community now have a real voice on the job, incentive to create a career at Edgewood and the ability to advocate for their clients without fear,” said Peter Finn, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 856.
Kid Care
Edgewood is what’s referred to as a “Level 14” treatment center, dealing with the highest level of psychologically and emotionally challenged children in the state.
The facility includes schools and residential cottages, as well as hospital, crisis and community-based programs.
“We were at the bargaining table and one of the workers started talking about getting bitten by a kid and having a scar. At one point, all the bargaining team members showed me the scars on their bodies, and I realized that they love these kids, take care of them and get up every day and do it again, even with these scars,” Jenkins said. “It’s an intense place to work and the people that do it are amazing.”
Mahalia LeClerc works in Therapeutic Behavioral Services at Edgewood and is committed to her chosen profession of helping children in need.
“We have a really high success rate in behavioral coaching for children with severe behavior,” LeClerc said.
“Kids need consistency, and when you’re working with kids in a high-stress situation, we have to be what we call a ‘solid object’; we have to be calm. When you’re tired, haven’t slept, and worked 14 hours without a break, you’re not going to manage as well. I’ve seen big changes, not just to our pay, but to the commitment to getting us our breaks, training and selfcare,” she said.
“I see a humongous difference, and the kids notice it, too. We’re firing on all cylinders and the kids have a safer and more fun environment,” said Pierre King, a two-year Edgewood worker and Local 856 member.
Working Together
King said the contract negotiations were productive and that “every single thing” is spelled out in the agreement.
“Everyone at the table was committed to making a better working environment for the longevity of the program and to bring the turnover rate down,” King said. “I have members come to me and say how grateful they are that this contract was ratified.”
LeClerc said she reads all the time about treatment facilities closing because they are underfunded so they provide low wages and are understaffed. The children end up dispersed, with families and caretakers desperately seeking help for their children with special needs.
This could have been the fate of Edgewood.
Instead, the union and Edgewood management worked together to lobby the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, obtaining a needed $400,000 budget increase from the city to continue operations.
“The Teamsters are a large union with a lot of political power, and it’s helped to increase funding and put mental health on local politicians’ radar, since mental health is such an important topic,” LeClerc said.