Howard County Headstart Workers Make Progress On Contract

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Union negotiators reported progress on one of the main outstanding issues in bargaining for a contract at Howard County HeadStart after worker’s supporters staged a demonstration outside negotiations yesterday. “Binding arbitration appears to be nearly settled!” reports SEIU Local 500 Field Mobilization Director Barbara Chavez. “I am convinced this is a direct result of our action.” Howard County HeadStart Executive Director Dottie Moore briefly suspended contract negotiations yesterday afternoon after supporters of the union workers staged a demonstration outside HeadStart headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. "The workers, united, will never be defeated!" purple-shirted supporters chanted in the bright sunlight on the sidewalk outside HeadStart. “One of the workers at Howard County said that she finally felt a sense of empowerment” after the demonstration, Chavez says. Workers at the Community Action Council of Howard County Head Start joined SEIU Local 500 almost two years ago but are still working without a contract. Local political leaders, including Howard County Council member Ken Ulman have been supportive of the workers, reports Local 500 Political Director Sylvia Lake.