Summit Park Workers Unite to Win a Contract

With help from their 1199SEIU brothers and sisters, workers at Summit Park have won a contract after a year-long fight for better wages and better working conditions.

The contract was settled shortly after workers showed a united front during the second of two informational pickets. The picket held on May 4^th revealed to the community that the facility had been contaminated with asbestos and garnered coverage in the Catonsville Times and the Catonsville Patch.

Since the picket, management at Summit Park has been working with 1199 to ensure that the asbestos is being safely removed from the facility.

The new contract includes a number of significant victories for the workers:

• For the first time, Summit Park workers will be allowed to take one personal day.
• The workers will retroactive pay dating back to January 2011.
• A 6 percent wage increase will be applied over 3 years.

According to 1199 Vice President Antoinette Turner, “It is so inspiring to see workers come together to achieve these victories. During these tough economic times, workers want a solid pay increase and retroactive pay, and they got those things because of their efforts.”

According to Donta Marshall, a GNA at the home and an 1199 delegate, “Winning this contract means so much to us because our voice has been heard and it shows that there is really power in numbers.” She adds, “In this economy, it really is a blessing to earn a decent wage increase and receive our retroactive pay – I know it will go a long way for me in covering my day-to-day expenses.”