Through These Doors Workers Win Union Election to Become the First Domestic Violence Resource Center in Maine to Unionize

Educators, Advocates and Shelter Staff Unite to Advocate for Themselves and Survivors

Cumberland County, ME — On Thursday, September 28th, educator, advocate and shelter staff at Through These Doors won their union election after 9 months of organizing, and they will now join the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU Local 1989). Workers won their election with a strong majority of workers voting in favor of their union, which was certified after the vote count on Thursday, September 28th. Through These Doors workers are the latest group of social service workers to organize with MSEA in southern Maine, joining staff at Preble Street, Planned Parenthood, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcost Maine, Sexual Assault Responce Services of Southern Maine, Speak About It and the ACLU of Maine. 

Through These Doors is the domestic violence resource center that supports victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking throughout Cumberland County, and offers a shelter, systems navigation advocacy, certified domestic violence intervention programming, and school and community based education. Staff emphasize that improvements they make through unionizing will only improve survivor care and services. 

“Our organizing efforts are grounded in the passion and care we have for the valuable work we do in our community for survivors. It is crucial that work in the DV movement be sustainable for advocates and educators who carry out direct service. Increased sustainability means better quality services for survivors and our communities,” said Aurelia Blackstock, CPS Systems Advocate. “To me, sustainability in the DV movement means that we exhibit the core values that we center in our work with survivors of self-determination, empathy, compassion and shared power in our workplace as well.”

Fostering a work environment that mirrors the values Through These Doors centers in its work with survivors is central to the worker’s unionization efforts. “I work at our shelter, and every day we are able to support and help empower survivors of domestic violence to reclaim autonomy over their lives. I am so grateful to stand alongside my coworkers to continue this work within our own organization, empowering each employee to have a voice over our own hours, wages, and working conditions”, says Johna Cook, Rapid Rehousing Advocate.

On Thursday, September 28th, a super majority of workers at Through These Doors voted in favor of their union, in an election that was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Through These Doors were hoping to be voluntarily recognized by their employer, however, in the absence of voluntary recognition and a tense campaign that included push back from their employer, the workers headed to an election. The worker’s union was certified on the spot after the vote count, and Through These Doors is now a unionized workplace. 

In Maine, sexual assault prevention and response services and domestic violence resource centers are separated into different agencies. While Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcost Maine and Sexual Assault Responce Services of Southern Maine have unionized with MSEA in recent years, Through These Doors is the first domestic violence resource center in Maine to organize. “We are so proud to be the first DV Resource Center in Maine to unionize. Our co-workers at Through These Doors are united in our commitment to shape our workplace to center resiliency and better serve our communities”, said Johna Cook. 

Workers at Through These Doors will now head into bargaining their first contract as a newly unionized workplace.