SEIU Mental Health Workers Stage Strike In Western Massachusetts

On July 22, 2015, front line community mental health clinical professionals employed by Clinical & Support Options (CSO) of Western Massachusetts went on a three-day strike in a wage contract dispute. A July 17, 2015 support letter posted by the worker's union, SEIU Local 509 categorized the issues behind the dispute as “poverty wages, severe workplace stress, and high turnover that threatens the quality and continuity of client care.” Prior to the strike, the two sides had been working with a federal mediator. After the strike, the workers returned to their jobs. A union spokesperson said that as . . .