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Three-year agreement provides wage increases and additional paid leave benefits
Washington, D.C. – Emerge and SEIU Local 205 Tennessee reached its first union contract—a three-year collective bargaining agreement that increases wages and provides additional paid leave benefits. The agreement covers approximately 15 employees represented by SEIU Local 205 in 13 states across the country.
“Emerge empowers Democratic women to run for office and add their voices as change makers to the halls of government. It was critical that this contract exemplify the same ideals for the Emerge staff who put in the hard work to empower women to govern,” said Jessica Stewart, President of SEIU Local 205. “This agreement advances the organization’s commitment to fairness, justice, and equity and affirms Emerge’s stated belief in the value of unionism and workers.”
“This contract reflects Emerge’s continued commitment to unions and recognizes our team’s contributions to powering Democratic women into office,” said Staceye Randle, People Operations Director at Emerge. “It’s a win-win, and we will continue to work to win in 2024 and beyond.”
Freda Player, executive director of Emerge Tennessee, was elected chief steward by members of Emerge United, the newly formed union. “Emerge United workers are central to Emerge’s mission of changing the face of power in government, and we are proud to have a union contract that reflects our values as an organization. Every single day, Emerge United members are working with Democratic women who are fighting for working families—this contract does the same for our staff by correcting pay inequities, extending paid family leave, and establishing worker rights for every Emerge worker. ”
Under the terms of the agreement, new compensation levels were established that will be implemented over the life of the three-year contract. The agreement also streamlines practices regarding hiring, workload, and discipline, and establishes a new Labor Management Committee to address issues going forward.
Emerge staff unanimously voted to unionize in May 2022. Emerge management voluntarily recognized the union and began working with SEIU Local 205 on its first collective bargaining agreement that was ratified on May 14, 2024.
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About Emerge: Emerge is the nation’s premier organization that recruits, trains, and elects Democratic women to run for office. We offer the most-comprehensive programming and currently have more than 6,000 program alums and more than 1,200 currently in office at every level of government.
About SEIU Local 205: SEIU Local 205 is chartered to represent its members in Tennessee. Currently, SEIU is active in four major cities – Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Oak Ridge – in both public- and private-sector workplaces.