Union Victory at Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca

ITHACA, N.Y. – Yesterday, clinicians and support staff at Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca (F&CS) overwhelmingly voted to authorize their union in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. The workers are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joining a movement of healthcare workers across Tompkins County who are choosing union representation with CWA.

Workers across healthcare industries are organizing for the right to negotiate union contracts that create working conditions and organizational cultures essential to both client and worker well-being. Staff at mental health clinics are tasked with meeting the increasing demand for mental health services in our communities. At F&CS, workers have seen an increase in the number of clients and increasing acuity of many clients’ concerns. Without adequate support and protections, these growing demands can put F&CS workers at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue, as well as reduce quality of care. Union members at Family and Children’s Service look forward to negotiating a union contract that ensures sustainable and dignified working conditions as they work to meet the needs of the community.

“I’m very proud of the hard work we have done in organizing our union, and I’m excited to move forward with bargaining our first contract as equal partners with management,” said Calyx Steiner, a clinician with Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca. “I believe we will be able to develop innovative policies together, which will offer us respectful, dignified, and trauma-informed working conditions. For me, organizing is a powerful and liberatory act which brings me hope, joy, and a sense of community in our current political landscape.”

“Unionizing means there will be a formal process for workers’ needs and perspectives to be represented in the policies that affect our working conditions,” said Naomi Sommers Bewley, a clinician with Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca. “There’s a mutual benefit towards long-term sustainability for workers and the organization, allowing us to continue filling a crucial role in mental health services for our community.”

Represented workers include clinicians, nurses, intake clinicians, behavioral health care coordinators, facilities workers, outreach workers, and clinic administrative coordinators. The workers provide mental health care and social services to the Ithaca community.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion