By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ

Local 95 President Linda McPherson and her shop stewards are mobilizing their members to push management to meet and discuss workplace issues. On Dec. 18, 2023, Local 95’s Head Start members at each of the three Community Parents Incorporated (CPI) worksites donned their DC 37 green t-shirts to send a message to management that united, they will not be ignored.

“Just about every member participated that day,” McPherson said. “Parents asked about our shirts and we explained that we’re trying to push the director to reconsider having a labor-management meeting to hear our concerns.”

Local 95 members at CPI perform a wide variety of tasks onsite as Lead Teachers, Assistants, Family Assistants, Cooks, Custodians, and Secretaries. Each member powers the Head Start early child development program by ensuring that parents receive help with a wide range of family needs, including housing, employment, and parenting education. Each site must be a safe, positive learning environment not only for children and parents but also the workers.

“When staff representatives went out to the sites, they met with members who all had concerns at the job,” McPherson said. “One main site had a strong, mysterious odor coming from the building every so often. Children would be sent home due to the odor, but staff had to stay and deal with the smell.”

Because the smell was so pungent, the Local requested a walkthrough from DC 37’s Safety and Health Department.

Union members expressed additional concerns to their shop stewards, such as staff shortages and challenges associated with a director who was not treating them fairly.

The situation highlighted the importance of labor-management meetings, which are opportunities for workplaces to take an important step in resolving issues before they escalate to grievances, contract renegotiation, or arbitration.

When the CPI executive director refused a labor-management meeting, McPherson knew it was time to assemble her team.

McPherson, Day Care and Headstart Manager Kimberly Berry, and DC 37 Field Operations Director Barbara Terrelonge met with Local 95 shop stewards from all three sites, noting the issues workers were facing and the executive director’s lack of response. Collectively, they agreed to wear the bright green T-shirts to protest conditions at the sites.

“The shop stewards returned to the members at their sites and explained what we had planned,” McPherson said. “The members agreed to support the effort and participate together.

“Previously, the members never would have done this. They were too afraid even to call the union on issues. Now that DC 37 is in place and the local is under my leadership, we’re giving them the support they need. If we do anything, I assure them that this is not something they can be fired for.”

Following the solidarity action, the CPI executive director agreed to a meeting. At that meeting, McPherson and Staff Representative Maria Gil learned she was retiring.

“We felt it was important to meet with her before she left so she could hear the concerns from staff that occurred during her tenure,” McPherson said. “We also plan to schedule a meeting with the new director to bring these same concerns to the table, discuss the issues, and put a stop to them.”

Shop Stewards Pave Way for Action

Once the meeting takes place, McPherson and DC 37 staff will brief Local 95’s shop stewards, who will then inform members of any new developments. McPherson believes that shop stewards are an important part of the union ecosystem.

“My goal is to encourage members to see how the union is there for them. If I play the role of president, shop steward, and staff, I’m not allowing members to explore more of their union,” McPherson said. “Instead, I have the local members complete their shop steward training and get their certificate. That gives them more insight on what the union is all about.”

Shop stewards bridge communication between management and the union to ensure employee contracts and rights are upheld. Engaged, well-trained shop stewards remind members that their concerns are valid. They are able to strategize with local leadership on obtaining a resolution.

McPherson also encourages day care centers with Head Start programs to assign shop stewards at every site to have more members’ voices incorporated into the union.

She has a long-term plan for members to become shop stewards and want to do more.

“Another one of my goals is to train upcoming members who are interested in becoming a president someday,” McPherson said. “We have a whole campaign to put more Volunteer Member Organizers into the union. As a VMO, you learn even more about the union.”

By obtaining training, becoming a shop steward, and learning to be an effective VMO, members are best prepared to run for election as a local president or executive board member.

Not one to shy from competition while stewarding a culture of empowerment, McPherson does not worry that someday one of her mentees may succeed her when she retires, or even beat her in a local election.

“I don’t have a problem with training people even if they run against me,” McPherson said. “I would be proud to see members run for election because I know they’re trained, can see what I’ve done during my tenure, expand on my accomplishments, and become a good president for our members.”

Members interested in attending an upcoming shop steward training may contact the DC 37 Nonprofit Education Department at 212.219.0022.

Interested in becoming a Volunteer Member Organizer? Contact the Field & Operations Department at 212.815.1000 for an application.