Monroe BOE Secretaries and Nurses Vote UNANIMOUSLY for UPSEU

In a Connecticut State election held on February 15, 2011, the 25 member Monroe Board of Education Secretaries Unit, voting in a secret ballot election chose UPSEU over their existing union, IFPTE. Also, on the same day, the seven member Monroe BOE Nurses Unit voting in a secret ballot election chose UPSEU over their existing union, IFPTE.

In both elections, UPSEU won with 100% of all votes!

A lack of representation, lackluster negotiations and poor communication were just a few of the reasons that led Monroe BOE Secretaries and Nurses to vote for UPSEU.

UPSEU Labor Relations Representative Matt Geer commented, "The Secretaries and Nurses in the Monroe Board of Education have seen first-hand the exceptional representation that UPSEU has provided to the Monroe BOE Custodial, Maintenance, Security, Food Service and Pararprofessional employees already represented by UPSEU. This alone was enough to inspire the groups to join UPSEU as well."

New Caanan BOE Secretaries

In a Connecticut State Labor Relations Board election held on February 16, 2011, the 42 member New Canaan BOE Secretaries Unit, voting in a secret ballot election, chose UPSEU over their existing union, AFSCME. UPSEU won the election with an overwhelming 88% of the total votes!

While the unit is different, the story with AFSCME never changes. Poor representation, lack of communication, never-ending dues increases without a vote, and lackluster negotiations, were just some of the issues that led the New Canaan Secretaries to vote to join UPSEU.

UPSEU Labor Relations Representatives Matt Geer and Roger Stolen both commended the group in standing together for better representation in the workplace! This New Canaan unit joins three other units that have already voted in Connecticut state run elections this year to leave AFSCME for UPSEU.

Bethel Dispatchers and Clerical Employees

United Public Service Employees Union is pleased to welcome another bargaining unit, previously represented by NAGE, SEIU.

In a Connecticut state run election held on February 22, 2011, the unit which was represented by NAGE, SEIU decided UNANIMOUSLY that they no longer wanted NAGE, SEIU as their union. UPSEU Labor Relations Representative Matt Geer commended the group in standing together to vote for better representation.

Region 16 BOE Clerical, Operations and Maintenance, Custodial, Paraprofessional and Food Service Employees

By a vote of 79 to 13, Region 16 BOE Clerical, Operations and Maintenance, Custodial, Paraprofessional and Food Service employees represented by CSEA/SEIU voted to join UPSEU in a March 3, 2011 state run election. The unit is made up of 112 employees, with an overwhelming 86% voting for UPSEU.

Workers were dissatisfied with the representation CSEA/ SEIU was providing and determined that a new union was needed. United Public Service Employees Union Labor Relations Representative Matt Geer headed up the organizing campaign. Geer stated, “CSEA/SEIU put forth their typical campaign of lies, false propaganda and intimidation tactics. Most striking was the fact that CSEA/SEIU did little more to convince the employees to stay with them. Region 16 employees were just fed up with the lack of respect and CSEA/SEIU’s failure to provide them with the representation that they so rightfully deserve."

Waterford BOE

The unionized members of the Waterford Board of Education employees voted to leave the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE/SEIU) voting unanimously in favor of United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU).

The Board of Education Custodial and Maintenance Employees and the Board of Education Cafeteria Employees participated in two separate elections resulting in two new victories for UPSEU.

“UPSEU/COPS was certified in 2010 as the exclusive bargaining representative for the police officers of Waterford and have since secured a new strong collective bargaining agreement for the officers," stated UPSEU Regional Director Ronald Suraci. “We are ready to hit the ground running, working hand and hand with our new members of the Board of Education,” Suraci went on to say.