Food stamp demand on rise

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

In today's poor economy, more people are turning to food stamps to make ends meet.

But increased accessibility to food stamps, and more demand for the program, has translated into longer lines and longer wait times for recipients. And caseworkers in some high-unemployment areas are now calling for more hands to keep up with the demand.

"Our lines are out the doors some days," said Linda Domingo, a caseworker at the Department of Transitional Assistance office in Lawrence.

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Eldridge is SEIU 509 “Legislator of the Year”

Littleton Independent, October 15, 2008

SEIU Local 509, the Massachusetts Union for Human Service Workers, has named State Representative Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) their 2008 “Legislator of the Year.” The union cited Representative Eldridge’s consistent commitment to fighting for economic opportunity for working families across the Commonwealth and his leadership in working to improve the quality of services for Massachusetts most vulnerable residents.

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Strain on social workers rises

Sunday, October 5, 2008

By Matt Murphymmurphy@lowellsun.com

BOSTON -- Some days Melissa Geoffroy can spend more time driving in her car than meeting with families or catching up on office work.

Her schedule can take her from Lowell to Baldwinville all in a day as she meets with children, parents, teachers, doctors, foster families and court officers to provide the services needed to the clients under her supervision.

Geoffroy is a social worker in the Lowell office of the Department of Children and Families, formerly the Department of Social Services. Since she started five years ago, her case load has increased from about 17 or 18 families to 26.

The same can be said for the other 93 case workers in the Lowell office

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Grunko: "Better training, reducing turnover key to quality care"

ADVOCATE: “GOD’S WORK DOESN’T PAY THE RENT”
State House News Service / June 10, 2008

Service Employees International Union President Michael Grunko said he supported the aims of human services providers but added that any reforms need to come with increased accountability – “better training and reducing high turnover rates caused by painfully low wages.”

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Monoxide victims still jittery

By Shaun Sutner
ssutner@telegram.com
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE / Jun 4, 2008

WORCESTER — While officials say state offices where several dozen employees were overcome last week by carbon monoxide are back to normal, some workers are still complaining of problems and how the state responded to the incident.

One employee of the state Department of Revenue, which was most affected by the toxic gas leak, is still suffering from severe symptoms after being treated in a hyperbaric chamber at a Boston hospital with another seriously affected worker, according to the woman’s husband.

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CO poisoning

By Scott J. Croteau
scroteau@telegram.com
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE / May 30, 2008

WORCESTER — Two state employees who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after a furnace leaked gas into the ventilation system of a Southbridge Street building were being treated in a Boston hospital late yesterday.

The two women were among 19 state employees working at 40 Southbridge St. — the Stevens Block building — who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and were taken to hospitals yesterday morning.

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Fidelity House workers plan to strike for a day

By J.J. Huggins
Eagle Tribune / May 20, 2008

LAWRENCE — Employees of Fidelity House Human Services plan to strike at 9 a.m. today because their bosses will not give them a 1 percent raise.

The strike will last one day, and the workers will be back on the job tomorrow.

Fidelity House is a private, nonprofit agency serving 600 local people with developmental disabilities. It handles case management, behavioral consultation and parent training.

"We don't want to jeopardize their care, but we want management to know we're serious," said Joyce Fusco of Lawrence, a case manager who has worked for Fidelity House for 25 years.

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The down escalator

By Stacie Hargis and Robert Forrant
Lowell Sun / April 20, 2008

... For a human service worker's average hourly pay of $9, they get to work in difficult and stressful conditions. Do the math. Someone works 40 hours a week to take home barely $300 after taxes...

Human service workers are fighting for higher wages through the Campaign for Quality Human Services in the Massachusetts Legislature.

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DSS will hire more social workers

By Michael Levenson
Globe Staff / March 27, 2008

Zevorah Bagni, president of the union that represents DSS workers, [said] that most cases require social workers to work not only with a child but dozens of others, such as relatives, teachers, and doctors.

"It's a step in the right direction," Bagni said. "The more social workers you have, the lower the caseload numbers can be; the lower the caseloads, the more attention you can give a family."

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Workers protest over talks

Friday, March 21, 2008
Springfield Republican
HOLYOKE - Frustrated over contract negotiations, workers at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children took to the streets yesterday in protest..

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Turnover, Low Wages Plague Human Service Field, Activist Coalition Says

By Catherine Williams
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 12, 2008…Low wages are driving health care workers from jobs caring for the elderly, at-risk youth and the mentally disabled, human service worker advocates said Tuesday during a gathering of lawmakers and labor representatives.

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