AFSCME Supports the ‘Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act’
WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in support of the “Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act,” bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) and Reps. Doris Matsui (D-California) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma). The legislation would increase the level of much-needed resources in 19 states to treat mental health conditions and addiction:
“AFSCME members are committed to making their communities healthier and stronger through treating addiction, mental health conditions and addressing the opioid epidemic. We support this important bipartisan legislation because it builds on the success and effectiveness of established Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), which have expanded services and reduced wait times for patients who need urgent treatment. We thank Senators Stabenow and Blunt and Representatives Matsui and Mullin for their leadership and for making it easier for dedicated mental health professionals to provide better care for the clients to whom they are so dedicated.”
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What can NUHHCE and a Union Contract Do For Me?
Union Representation = Job Security. You can negotiate a grievance procedure to protect your job. The grievance procedure is the ability to file an investigation into a disciplinary action or write up and challenge it. Management must prove they had “just cause” to administer the discipline. You will no longer have to fear that a supervisor can unilaterally fire you. You will have recourse with protection from your grievance procedure. If a dispute is not settled through the grievance procedure it can escalate to an arbitration. An arbitration is the ability to have a neutral third party (arbitrator) stand as a judge over any dispute and the arbitrators decision will be legally binding.
Union Contract = Voice at the Workplace. You are currently an at will employee with no voice in the decisions at your workplace. With a union contract you will bargain for your hours of work (on call, vacations, sick leave) wages (salary and benefits) and your working conditions (safety and fair treatment). You will not only have a voice at the workplace you will have a voice in your union. You will vote on your negotiating committee, contracts, delegates, and dues structure.
