Fair Contract for Casual Safe Haven Staff: Informational Picket

This is a public informational picket in support of the casual staff at Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth. The casual staff unionized in early May and are working to negotiate a fair contract with Safe Haven. Among their demands, these staff would like fair wages and time off. This informational picket is held on the public sidewalk outside of the Resource Center at 414 W 1st St. Attendees can show labor solidarity by showing up and bringing signs for a fair contract, fair wages, time off, and treating the Casual Staff like other workers.

From the petition:
“Casual Staff are employees who work less than 16 hours a week at Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth. Their job entails providing advocacy to survivors of domestic violence in a number of ways at the shelter, from taking hotline calls to serving meals. Because they are casual staff, they often work at other jobs or attend college. They are proud to contribute to Safe Haven by filling in shifts.

In early May, these staff unionized because they wanted the same pay as other staff as they do the same amount of work. They also wanted access to time off, as they do not have access to paid or unpaid time off for leisure, emergencies, or non-emergency situations (school, conferences, meetings, other jobs, etc). They simply want to be treated like other workers. Because of this, 100% of these hardworking employees signed cards to become AFSCME members.

Now, these workers are calling upon the community and their allies to support them as they negotiate for a fair contract with equal wages and access to time off. They should not be punished for unionizing, made to work more, and treated as second class workers. We ask the administration of Safe Haven to approach negotiations with fairness and compassion as they reach a contract agreement with the dedicated employees who strengthen and enrich the organization. Supporting workers is essential to supporting survivors.”