The Value of MEA
Wayne County Head Start unit lauds alliance
Never wavering, MEA guided local through three years of difficult negotiations.
Cherrie King and her 175-member Southwest Head Start ESP unit don’t regret for a moment their alliance with MEA.
“MEA always helps its members, and they helped us to the extreme,” King said.“We are so grateful for everything MEA has done to help us get a contract.”
Wayne County Head Start unit lauds alliance King’s Wayne County unit had been members of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) but became dissatisfied with that affiliation and switched to MEA three years ago.
That began an extraordinarily lengthy bargaining process that ended in late February when both sides ratified a three-year contract.
“It took us three years to get a contract, but we have no regrets,” King said. “MEA stood by us the entire way and provided the services that kept us together and kept us going.”
The Head Start local faced a situation where management was refusing to bargain a salary schedule or calendar.
Head Start members sought help from MEA, and MEA delivered.
The local took advantage of MEA
legal services to file unfair labor practice
charges during bargaining. MEA
Communications developed a public
relations campaign that members used
to their advantage. They also received
training from MEA staff in basic unionism
and assertiveness.
“Bargaining was long and hard, but it paid off,” King said. “It was a difficult struggle, but thanks to MEA we got things in place that should make our next contract easier.”