Nearly 450 workers at Boston-based Fenway Health will vote to become members of 1199SEIU.  Workers seeking to join 1199SEIU include medical assistants, registered nurses, patient navigators, educators, tele-health workers, therapist, community health workers, and nurse practitioners at two clinics and Aids Action Committee, as well as retail workers at Boomerangs. 

“A union will give us power and resources so we can support our patients and clients without sacrificing our own health.  When we have a say in the clinic, we can work toward improving the overall quality of care provided. When staff have fair wages and job security and patients and clients receive the essential care they need, our community at Fenway has the chance to flourish,” said Korin Sundberg (she/they), high acuity case manager at Fenway Health.

Driven by their commitment to equitable access and quality care for all, Fenway Health workers began organizing in late 2022. Recruitment and retention efforts have risen to critical importance for workers, that include expanding support for BIPOC employees, improving training of clinical staff, and reinstatement of cost-of-living-adjustments.

“Fenway Health workers have been on the frontlines in caring for LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, and other underserved communities in Massachusetts during a time of increased fear and uncertainty,” said Tim Foley, 1199SEIU executive vice president. “They deserve to have a seat at the table so they can improve their workplaces and continue to provide vital services especially when gender-affirming care has been restricted in 20 states.”

"We are coming together to form a union because staff aren’t being treated fairly in terms of pay, benefits, and policies given the enormous amount of work we do and how we uniquely represent the communities we serve. Through a Union, we can protect our jobs and work toward creating real equity in our workplace. Better working conditions and job safety would allow us to put more energy and support toward mental health and medical care for our clients and patients," said Nina Warner (they/them), counselor and advocate, violence recovery program at Fenway Health.

Fenway Health workers follow nearly 200 Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts workers who united in 1199SEIU in July 2022.

The date for the union election will be set later by the National Labor Relations Board.

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About 1199SEIU Representing nearly 80,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and over 450,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.