Mayor Katjana Ballantine Advances Equity and Change in Somerville’s E911 System and Endorses Massachusetts 911 Reform Legislation
On 8/22/2024, Mayor
Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville City Council ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with SEIU Local 888 membership in Somerville E911.
In a truly historic contract, Mayor Ballantyne stated that "This new contract not only breaks new ground, it breaks the system, and then builds it back up, better."
It is a revolutionary contract for these dedicated public safety members and a massive step forward for a field, which is comprised of a nationwide average of 80% identifying as women.
"It builds in not only cost of living adjustments but higher starting salaries, higher step increases, in some cases more than 9% and 22% higher than the last contract, we added differentials and stipends that mirror those in the Fire Alarm contract, and the contract introduces strong new benefits including access to our new family medical leave program coming soon, which will offer 8 weeks of pay for qualified leaves. The contract also increases vacation time, creates a unit-wide sick leave bank for the first time, and establishes wellness release time for preventative medical care or mental health appointments.
Finally, and importantly, the contract also codifies a more appropriate job title. This contract delivers the job title their parent union is fighting to establish for all of these workers. They are no longer Call Takers. They are now Emergency Telecommunicators, a title that properly reflects their vital, modern public safety
responsibilities accurately."
SEIU Local 888 would like to thank our Public Safety Emergency
Telecommunicators and Police Dispatchers in Somerville, and the true leadership of Mayor Ballantyne, her team, and the Somerville City Council for their leadership.
Mayor Ballantyne has also provided written testimony to the Massachusetts State House advocating for passage of 911 legislation and joins Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in joining Local 888 for further in-person testimony for 911 reform at the State House.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's Call to Action to Support Federal 911 Legislation (Video)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has been a staunch advocate of 911 Emergency Telecommunicators.
In 2023, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recognized the glaring inequities in the 911 Emergency Telecommunicator field. The Mayor made it a priority to create equity in the First Responder field, and the first step in that process is properly re-classifying them as Public Safety/First Responders.
Mayor Wu understood that this classification must take place at not only a municipal level, but on the Commonwealth & Federal levels as well.
Reach out to your State and Federally elected officials and request that they co-sponsor and support these vital pieces of legislation.
Federal:
- 911 Saves Act (House)
- Enhancing First Response Act (Senate)
Massachusetts:
H.2667 & S.1586
Watch Mayor Wu's video below for more info on how re-classifying 911 Emergency Telecommunicators is essential to all of us!
Boston City Council Resolution in Support of Massachusetts 911 Legislation
On May 1, 2024, Boston City Councilors Ben Weber and Sharon Durkan introduced:
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF H.2667 AND S.1586
"AN ACT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY
TELECOMMUNICATORS WITH THE SAME INTERNAL
BENEFITS AS FIRST RESPONDERS"
In 2023, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recognized Boston 911 Emergency Telecommunicators as Public Safety/First Responders by Executive Order.
We are grateful for the leaders of the Commonwealth's largest municipality in showing true leadership and support in action.
We now offer both Mayor Wu's Executive Order and the Boston City Council Resolution as a Call to Action to the Legislature at the Massachusetts State House to finally pass these vital pieces of legislation as a first step in providing dignity and respect in the 911 profession.
Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan's Order on Boston Employee Mental Health and Wellness
Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan has put the psychological well-being of its residents and employees at the forefront of her mission in office.
On September 11, 2023, Councilor Durkan introduced:
"ORDER FOR A HEARING TO REVIEW THE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES DURING THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC AND BEYOND"
The Commonwealth 911 Peer Support team is honored to be able to collaborate with Councilor Durkan, and help to both reshape and modernize employee wellness in the capital of the Commonwealth.
911 Legislation
There are many pieces of legislation at both the state and federal level whose goal is to ensure parity for 911 Emergency Telecommunicators with other Public Safety/First Responders.
Director/Coordinator of the Commonwealth 911 Peer Support team, Anthony Landry, is also the Political Director and Lobbyist for SEIU Local 888 in Massachusetts. SEIU 888 represents 911 Emergency Telecommunicators from nine different agencies, including Boston 911, State Police, Somerville, two State 911 Communications Centers and others.
In the summer of 2022, SEIU 888 President Thomas McKeever assigned Anthony to work directly with the City of Boston to help with the staffing crisis at his former agency: Boston 911 Operations. Through their collaborative work, the City of Boston became the first municipality recognizing their 911 Emergency Telecommunicators as "Public Safety/First Responders" by Mayor Michelle Wu's Executive Order.
We are taking this victory to the Commonwealth and on a federal level in hopes to finally bring the correct designation to these unsung heroes of the First Responder community.
Massachusetts Legislation
Massachusetts has a two year legislative cycle. The following are the bill numbers of for the 2023/2024 cycle affecting 911 Emergency Telecommunicators in the Commonwealth.
An Act relative to the internal benefits of public safety telecommunicators (Public Safety)
An Act relative to Massachusetts certified emergency telecommunicators (Group 2 Retirement)
An Act relative to 911 emergency telecommunicators inclusion in the heart bill
Federal Legislation
911 Saves Act of 2023
Federal reclassification of 911 Emergency Telecommunicators to a Protective Service Occupation
Enhancing First Response Act
Section 3 would reclassify 911 Emergency Telecommunicators to a Protect Service Occupation
*UPDATE 7/10/2024*
Favorably Passed Committee and now moves to House for vote