Brien Center Management, Union Reach Deal to Avert Strike

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Brien Center management and employees have settled on a contract that will stop an agency-wide strike.set to start  Monday.

Last month, nearly 350 union workers voted to go on strike July 6 because of failed negotiations with management to resolve pay and benefit issues. However, after emergency negotiations this holiday weekend, a contract settlement was agreed upon that would improve wages, reduce health-care costs for front-line clinicians and direct care staff.

"This settlement is proof of the real, positive change that mental health workers can create by standing together," said Jessica Kemp, a registered nurse in Brien’s substance abuse treatment program. "Our new agreement is a significant step in valuing the vital services we provide, and lays a strong foundation for the future at Brien Center.”

"We came to a resolution on July 4 because all parties came together understanding that no one would benefit from a strike," M. Christine Macbeth, CEO of the Brien Center, said. "We worked very hard to put forward a generous and financially sustainable package that will enable us to continue to provide exceptional services to our clients."

Service Employees International Union 509 and Brien Center management have been struggling to find an agreement since last September.

Employees suggested that the low wages lead to high turnover and disruptions to client care.

“Our number one priority is providing the best possible service to kids and families in Berkshire County, and that means ensuring the Brien Center is a place that can recruit and retain talented, experienced staff,” said Raya Kirby, an intensive care coordinator at Brien. “This agreement will help to reduce turnover and wait lists so that we can meet the needs of more families in our communities.”

In the agreement, front-line clinicians and direct care staff will receive a 7 percent wage increase over the life of their contract, including a retroactive 1.5 percent increase to January 1, 2015, a 2.5 percent raise in October 2015, and a 3 percent raise in October 2016.

Originally employees asked for a 5 percent wage hike, but were offered a 1.5 percent increase with the possibility of this increasing if the Brien Center found itself in a better financial position

Management also agreed to increase its share of health-care costs by 10 percent and has established a joint committee to ensure a more equitable dispersal of health insurance costs in the future. Should the committee be unable to agree, a hard cap on out-of-pocket healthcare increases will go into effect.

Originally workers said the agency would raise employees' share of health insurance costs by 34.5 percent effectively resulting in a pay cut.

The settlement also establishes a new "overflow" structure that will effectively expand access to intensive care clinical services for children with serious behavioral health issues.

The agreement is subjected to ratification by the full union membership at Brien Center.

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. 

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

 

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members. 

 

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

 

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

 

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

 

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."