Tell Shalom House Board of Directors: Union-Busting is Unacceptable!

Ever since 150 residential and client services workers at Portland-based Shalom House filed to form a union with MSEA SEIU 1989 last month, management has been waging an anti-union campaign against the workers. As the Maine Beacon reports, the nonprofit has hired union busting attorney Rick Finberg of the Portland and Boston-based Bennett Law Firm to lead the campaign. On the firm's webpage, Finberg’s bio states he is “effective union avoidance strategies” and boasts of “a near perfect record defeating union organizing efforts.” 

Shalom House Executive Director Mary Haynes-Rodgers has sent emails and hung posters pressuring workers to vote against the union and forced staff to attend mandatory captive audience meetings to listen to misleading and intimidating anti-union talking points.

Shalom is funded by state Medicaid reimbursements. These actions are a blatant misuse of staff time and could be considered a violation of labor law by National Labor Relations Board officials. For Shalom House management to use tax-payer dollars to union-bust its own employees is wasteful and demonstrates a highly concerning set of priorities.

Support Shalom House Workers - Click here to tell Shalom House management to immediately cease its union busting campaign!

A poster hung by Shalom House management advising employees vote against the union.

The social service agency helps provide people with serious mental illness with community-based mental health services and housing for Mainers experiencing homelessness. Shalom House staff began discussing forming a union last summer over frustration with pay, working conditions and understaffing.

“For me, it’s mostly about feeling safe,” Becca Burchill, who works per diem as relief staff covering unfilled shifts, told the Beacon. “I’ve been there for three years and I am always left alone for long periods of time. And I’ve asked and asked and asked for help and support and haven’t got it.”

The workers say  understaffing also impacts their clients because it can make them feel unsafe and unsupported when experiencing a mental health crisis. Shalom House staff and Maine legislators told the Beacon that the social service agency’s recent union busting tactics contradict the organization’s mission.

“It’s really unprofessional and it’s really unnecessary,” said Tim Stokes, a full-time residential support worker. “We’re just looking to be acknowledged, and we’re not seeing the actions being taken by upper management that take our lives or the longevity of our positions into account.”

Maine Legislators have signed a letter, urging Shalom House to remain neutral in the union election.

“Workers have the right to organize without misinformation, intimidation and fear. It’s disappointing and unfortunate that Shalom House management has chosen to take this path,” Rep. Margaret O’Neil (D-Saco), who circulated the letter, told the Beacon.

“Shalom House looks out for community members,” she added. “To be in alignment with their mission, Shalom management should support their workers being healthy and having their needs met too.”