We are pleased to announce our brothers and sisters at Nazareth College have successfully negotiated their first contract on September 18th.  The contract went out to vote for ratification, and an overwhelming majority of your coworkers supported it.

The bargaining committee should be commended for negotiating a strong first agreement on behalf of their coworkers.  Among the important workplace changes this agreement establishes are a No Discrimination clause and a Respect and Dignity clause.  The contract also establishes a grievance procedure, which gives you the right to challenge your boss should you be unjustly written up or terminated.  Also, as union members now, you have what are known as Weingarten rights; this means if your are called in to your supervisors office to be disciplined, you may request your shop steward be there to serve as a witness.

Now that the contract is finished, it is time to start gearing up for membership meetings.  Remember- this is your union, you now have a voice at your workplace, so let that voice be heard.  The more active the membership of a local union is, the stronger each future contract will be.

Nazareth employees and SEIU Local 200 United members Heidi Sutherland and Greg Grant at the ratification vote.