SEIU 32BJ

Delegation of Faith Leaders and Airport Workers Deliver a Letter to JetBlue

Rabbi-Rothbaum-at-Jet-Blue-airport-delegation-1-e1543102105618.jpg

 On December 21, a delegation of faith leaders and airport workers delivered a letter to JetBlue at Boston Logan Airport. The letter from the faith delegation (including Imam Abdul-Malik Merchant from Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center; Pastor Dieufort Fleurissant of Voice of Gospel Tabernacle, Mattapan; Rabbi Michael Rothbaum of Congregation Beth Elohim, Acton; Reverend Norm Faramelli, Father Bob Kennedy, Alan Comeau and Sister Tess Browne from Massachusetts Interfaith Worker Justice; and xx from Catholic Labor Guild) read in part:

“We have heard that, as you are working to make our city one of your biggest travel hubs, you are also allowing your contracted FSS and ReadyJet to unjustly hurt working families in our city… We need an airline that will hire responsible contractors that respect people in your travel hubs, whether they are your passengers or the workers who keep your airport running."ReadyJet and FSS, the two biggest aviation service contractors for JetBlue at Logan Airport, both have a long record of wage theft, violations of labor laws, and health & safety violations. Employees like Sadia Mohammed are fighting for respect and a union at Logan Airport, and have even gone on strike to protest unfair labor practices.Thanks to faith allies for standing up for justice for workers at Logan!

Act Now: Update on Francisco Rodriguez's Case

francisco-rodriguez-vigil-7-13.jpg

Francisco Rodriguez was detained on Thursday, July 13 at his check-in with ICE. Francisco is an active member of the Chelsea and Boston communities, a union janitor at MIT with 32BJ SEIU, and a father of two daughters with a third child on the way.You can read more about Francisco's case here and you can read his letter to the public from inside detention here.

Take action today to stop Francisco's deportation:

  1. Donate to Francisco's fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/help-stop-franciscos-deportation
  2. Call our Senators and Representative, thank them for their work on the case thus far, and ask for their support for Francisco’s immediate release from detention & and to weigh in personally with DHS to stop Francisco’s deportation
  3. Sign this petition and call Governor Charlie Baker and ask for his support for Francisco Rodriguez’s immediate release from detention and to weigh in personally with DHS to stop Francisco’s deportation
  4. Contact ICE and let them know you want Francisco Rodriguez to be immediately released from detention:

Important: If you've had a bad experience calling ICE re. Francisco's case, please write down the date, time, and the name of the officer that you spoke with and what happened and email it to me lily@massjwj.net.Sample Script for Senators/Representatives:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling to ask you to help stop Francisco Rodriguez ’s deportation and for his immediate release from detention. Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. I appreciate the work your office and the Senator/Representative has taken on with regards to Francisco's case. I'm calling to ask him/her to personally weigh in with ICE and DHS and to continue to do all he/she can to keep Francisco in our community. If he is deported, we would all suffer greatly. Thank you for your time."

 Sample Script for Governor Baker:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling with regards to the case of Francisco Rodriguez. I'm calling to urge the Governor to do everything in his power to stop the deportation and advocate for the immediate release of Francisco from detention. Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. Governor Baker has the power to do the right thing and personally weigh in with ICE and DHS to keep Francisco with his family and community. Our Commonwealth would suffer greatly if he is deported. Thank you for your time."

 Sample Script for ICE:

"Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I’m calling to ask you to help stop Francisco Rodriguez ’s deportation and for his immediate release from detention. His A-Number: 099-665-463. His A-Number: 099-665-463.  Francisco is a dedicated community member with young children. Despite following ICE's orders, he was detained on Thursday, July 13. I'm calling to urge ICE to use its discretion and keep Francisco in the community and with his family."

Keep Francisco Home: Week of Action

immigration-poster.jpg

MIT Rally & Press Conference

When: Tuesday, July 11 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.Where: MIT Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 02139

The MIT community calls on ICE to stop Francisco's deportation! Join Francisco, MIT officials, faculty, and staff, 32BJ SEIU members, MIT students, and greater Cambridge politicians and community members.

ICE Check-In Support

When: Thursday, July 13 | 9 a.m.
Where: ICE Field Office, 1000 District Avenue, Burlington 01803
We will gather with community and union members to support Francisco as he attends his mandatory check-in with ICE and receives information about the future of his case and ability to stay with his family in the United States.

#HereToStay Vigil

When: Thursday, July 13 | 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: US Immigration Courts at JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury Street, Room 320, Boston 02203
Come hear the campaign update and celebrate Francisco's good news OR call for his immediate release if he was detained at his check-in! Stand in solidarity with Francisco and all immigrant workers and their families who have faced detention and deportation.

About Francisco's Case:

Francisco Rodriguez is a union brother and devoted community member facing deportation.
Last month, we joined more than 40 community members from faith, student, and labor organizations to accompany Francisco to his immigration check-in. We went to support Francisco and his family and to show ICE that we are watching. After this meeting, Francisco received a call moving up his next check-in date from December to July.
 
We must continue to show up and put the pressure on ICE to do the right thing and keep Francisco here with his family.
 
Other ways to support Francisco:
 
1. Call
  • New England Regional ICE office Immigration officer Gary Roltsch: (781) 359-7500 X7625
  • Community Relations officer Alexia Koplewski: (781) 359-7511
2. Email
3. Write a letter or postcard to Immigration Officer ASAP:
 
Immigration Officer Gary Roltsch
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Boston Field Office
1000 District Avenue
Burlington, MA 01803
Sample script for calls, emails, letters: "Hi, my name is __ and I live in __. I am calling to ask you to grant Mr. Francisco Rodriguez Guardado's stay of removal. His A-Number: 099-665-463. Mr. Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006. He is a father of two American citizen children and with a baby on the way. He is a member of his children's school parent committee, of the community organization Chelsea Collaborative, of the Church Tabernaculo biblico seguidores de Jesus, and a union member of 32BJ SEIU (Service Employees International Union) at MIT. Mr. Rodriguez  always pays his taxes and contributes to his community, church, children's school and at work. He is a beloved member of Chelsea. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez's mother who is currently a permanent resident will become a citizen next year and shortly after she will petition for her son's pathway to residency and eventual citizenship."

Help Us Stop Francisco's Deportation

One of our union brothers is facing deportation, and he needs your help. This is urgent.

Francisco Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006 and has been in Chelsea for the past six years. He is a janitor at MIT and a member of 32BJ SEIU and the Chelsea Collaborative. He has young children who are U.S. citizens and his mother is a legal permanent resident. Despite the fact that Mr. Rodriguez is a beloved member of our community, he is facing potential deportation.

How you can support Francisco:

  1. Attend the rally for Francisco's check-in, July 13 at 9 a.m. at the ICE Field Office, 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803
  2. Call
    1. New England Regional ICE office Immigration officer Gary Roltsch: (781) 359-7500 X7625
    2. Community Relations officer Alexia Koplewski: (781) 359-7511
  3. Email
    1. alexia.koplewski@ice.dhs.gov
    2. Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.go
    3. ERO.INFO@ice.dhs.gov
    4. Chris.M.Cronen@ice.dhs.gov
    5. Todd.J.Thurlow@ice.dhs.gov
  4. Write a letter or postcard to Immigration Officer ASAP:
    Immigration Officer Gary Roltsch
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    Boston Field Office
    1000 District Avenue
    Burlington, MA 01803
Sample script for calls, emails, letters, and postcards: "Hi, my name is __ and I live in__. I am calling to ask you to grant Mr. Francisco Rodriguez Guardado's stay of removal. His A-Number: 099-665-463. Mr. Rodriguez has lived in the U.S. since 2006. He is a father of two American citizen children and with a baby on the way. He is a member of his children's school parent committee, of the community organization Chelsea Collaborative, of the Church Tabernaculo Biblico Seguidores de Jesus, and a union member of 32BJ SEIU (Service Employees International Union) at MIT. Mr. Rodriguez Guardado always pays his taxes and contributes to his community, church, children's school and at work. He is a beloved member of Chelsea. In addition, Mr. Rodriguez's mother who is currently a permanent resident will become a citizen next year and shortly after she will petition for her son's pathway to residency and eventual citizenship."
Mr. Rodriguez applied for asylum in 2007 shortly after arriving in the United States. After his application for asylum was denied, he was granted prosecutorial discretion and has received a Stay of Removal every year since then.

On Tuesday, June 13th, Francisco went to his immigration check-in and was accompanied by more than 40 community members, including the JLC, to bear witness, support him and his family, and take a stand against unjust immigration laws and deportations. Together we chanted and sang songs of solidarity as we waited for Francisco.

In the morning, ICE said that Francisco has until Dec 13th for his next check-in, however, just six hours later, ICE said that Francisco has to return for his check-in on July 13th with travel documents.

Please continue to check your emails from us and our Facebook page on ways you can take action.

Last Day of SEIU 32BJ Harvard Janitors' Contract

003737_1318664-jpg-800x450_q95_crop-smart_upscale

Students and janitors rally on Thursday, November 10. Photo Credit: Grace Z. Li, Harvard Crimson

Today is the last day of the contract that covers approximately 700 janitors at Harvard, who are represented by SEIU 32BJ. Last week, Harvard janitors voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike if the union and the university are unable to reach an agreement on the contract by the end of today. The janitors' demands include affordable healthcare, raises, and more full-time work.The approximately 300 security guards at Harvard are also represented by SEIU 32BJ and are engaged in contract negotiations. Harvard employs its security guards through the subcontractor Securitas. Security guards and Securitas have agreed to extend the contract until December 1 to allow for more time to bargain.

Tufts Janitors Reach Tentative Agreement, Avoid Strike

By Kathleen Contivia The Boston GlobeAfter a 12-hour marathon bargaining session and with just two hours before a midnight deadline for a threatened janitors’ strike, the workers who clean Tufts University and the school’s maintenance contractor reached a four-year tentative agreement Monday night.About 200 Tufts janitors will see their hourly wages increase to $21.55 from $19.35 over the next four years, if the janitors ratify the contract. The workers’ union also received a commitment from contractor C&W Services to create more full-time positions over the life of the contract.

The Newton-based maintenance contractor also agreed to increases to the workers’ pension and training funds, and to provide health insurance at no additional cost to members who work full time, according to a spokesman for 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents the workers.The janitors are scheduled to vote on the agreement Wednesday.

“This is a good agreement that opens a path to the middle class for hardworking men and women who are an indispensable part of the Tufts community,” said Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU.C&W Services, a division of brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield, said in a statement they are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the union.“We’ve bargained in good faith and offered a fair and comprehensive package to our employees,” the company said in a statement. “We are pleased that the Union leadership has accepted this offer and will present it to their membership for ratification.”

A spokesman for Tufts, which was not involved in the negotiations, said in a statement that the school is thankful a tentative agreement “that is fair for all parties” was reached.“As always, we value C&W janitors’ contributions to our community, and we look forward to their continued presence on our campus,” said spokesman Patrick Collins.Last week, the janitors unanimously voted to authorize a strike if an agreement with C&W Services wasn’t reached by the end of Monday, when their contract was set to expire. The tentative agreement averted a strike that could have potentially started Tuesday. Tufts announced it had a contingency plan in place if its janitors walked off the job.The agreement does not include language the union sought that would have addressed workers’ concerns over excessive workloads they said were caused by a restructuring of services at the university last year that resulted in the layoffs of nine custodians and moving other workers to weekend shifts.Eugenio Villasante, spokesman for 32BJ SEIU, said while they will continue to make sure the janitors have a fair workload, the union considers C&W’s “strong commitment to create full time jobs” a victory for the workers.About 60 percent of the janitors who maintain the campus straddling Somerville and Medford work full-time, according to 32BJ SEIU.The two sides had been in negotiations since August.

Sign up to receive news and action alerts from the New England Jewish Labor Committee