465 LifePath Workers in PA Vote CWA

In one of the biggest NLRB elections this year, a unit of 467 LifePath workers who provide care for developmentally disabled adults in Pennsylvania voted strongly for representation by CWA Local 13500 on Sept. 19.

The campaign relied heavily on the Stewards Army to reach LifePath workers who work at 90 different locations in seven counties. More than 25 stewards, members and activists of Local 13000 and Local 13500 volunteered their time to talk about the benefits of union representation, said CWA District 13 Organizing Coordinator Pam Trounser.

LifePath, a non-profit organization that receives most of its funds from county and state government, initially sought to hold captive audience meetings and send mailings to workers' homes. But Local 13500 got state and local legislators to sign on to public letters of support and to alert the State Auditor General that public funds may have been used for anti-union activities, a violation of state law.  

A radio campaign also helped let LifePath workers know that their union colleagues in New Jersey had turned to CWA to address similar concerns on the job, like firings for no reason and unfair treatment, said Marge Krueger, administrative director, District 13.