Building Political Power

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Greater Accountability With Our Tax Dollars

This year, over 1,000 members of Local 615 have participated in the union’s political activities—testifying before legislative hearings, rallying at the State House, meeting personally with state legislators, and contributing to the union’s COPE fund. Every day, members are holding politicians accountable and building our union’s political power to win strong contracts, protect our jobs, and help our union grow.

SEIU Local 615 is supporting three pieces of legislation which will ensure that the companies and institutions which receive public funding meet high standards of fiscal accountability and transparency.

On May 18^th, more than 50 janitors, security officers, cafeteria workers, students and community supporters stood alongside Senator Patricia Jehlen of Somerville, Senator Karen Spilka of Framingham and Representative Martin Walsh of Boston in front of the State House to support of these bills.

“When our taxes go to hiring companies, they should offer a high quality of service and a willingness to contribute to our community, not cut corners at our community’s expense,” said Security Officer Antonio Miles in reference to a prevailing wage bill which would improve jobs for officers in public buildings.

Betty Maitland, Security Officer at Harvard’s Southborough campus, spoke at the rally about the Higher Education Transparency bill: “Because these universities receive public funds, we as taxpayers have a right to know what’s being done with our money.” Following the rally, she and other Local 615 members met with Governor Patrick and delivered a letter requesting his support on our three pieces of legislation.

Westfield State University student Patrick Burke spoke in support of the bill which would put money back into public colleges and universities by requiring that contractors pass down savings from rebates and volume discount purchases to the institutions instead of pocketing the money.

On June 7, security officers packed into a hearing room at the State House to testify in support of improving the jobs of security officers who protect state property. Raymond Wright, a security officer at a non-union building, explained that “carpenters, plumbers, electricians, janitors, and virtually every other trade are already covered by a prevailing wage…except security officers. The testimonies of my fellow security officers today moved me because no one should be living on poverty wages. I decided to call my Senator and I spoke with him directly about why he needs to support this bill.”