Brien Center Management, Union Reach Deal to Avert Strike
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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.
