Workers seek to boost recruitment and retention efforts to mitigate impact of Dobbs decision

Media Contact: Marlishia Aho at Marlishia.Aho@1199.org 

Quincy, Mass (July 06, 2022) - Nearly 200 workers at four Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) clinics in Boston, Worcester, Marlborough and Springfield voted to unite in 1199SEIU. In a mail-ballot election, 98% of workers voted overwhelmingly to unite in 1199 and join a growing movement of Planned Parenthood workers organizing to protect good jobs and improve access to reproductive healthcare.  

“This victory reinforces that there's a tremendous amount of power when workers come together. Unionizing has been a way for us to invest in each other and gain some control over what our workplace looks like, especially given the climate we are in,” said Cara Callahan, a continuity of care patient navigator at PPLM. “We want to live our shared values to provide care for ourselves and one another. This ensures we can center our patients and make sure they get the quality care they need and deserve.”

The workers who voted to join 1199SEIU include healthcare assistants, registered nurses, patient navigators, educators, tele-health workers, advanced practice clinicians, and advocates, who work in the four clinics across the state. 

“This vote reinforces that the voices of healthcare heroes must be centered in safeguarding quality care in Massachusetts,” said Tim Foley, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, “PPLM workers now have that opportunity and will be able to inform the future of reproductive and gender-affirming care in Massachusetts.

PPLM workers began organizing in early 2022, filing for their union election in May. Recruitment and retention efforts have risen to critical importance for workers, especially in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned and the expected increase of patients seeking care in Massachusetts.

This union victory is just the latest in healthcare workers uniting in 1199SEIU. In March 2022, over 400 home care workers joined the union through a free and fair process agreement between 1199SEIU and Elara Caring.

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About 1199SEIU Representing over 70,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and over 450,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.

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