Rosemont Workers Picket Morrison HQ

Rosemont Workers Picket Morrison HQ

More than 65 members of the staff at the Rosemont Treatment Center and School and their community supporters picketed the Portland headquarters of Morrison Child and Family Services June 6.

The rally dramatized their quest for a contract that will reduce chronically high staff turnover at the school for troubled girls in the Mount Scott section of Southeast Portland.
The staff of 60, who voted overwhelmingly for SEIU 503 last year, are in their fifth month of bargaining with Morrison in search of an agreement that recognizes our role in ensuring that Rosemont Treatment Center is a healthy, safe and stable environment for the girls and stems the staff turnover that is so debilitating to the girls' treatment, employees said in a letter to Morrison board members in May.

Jessica Selser checks her chant sheet and Gina Montenaro holds her picket sign high.

According to the school web site

The girls at Rosemont have faced numerous challenges, including sexual and physical abuse, parental neglect, school failure, truancy,and trouble with the law. They have mental health issues and emotional problems, and many are also struggling with substance abuse. Often they have run away from their families, foster homes, or previous placements.

At Rosemont, the girls find a secure and predictable environment in which to focus on forming new attitudes and safer behaviors. The caring, professional staff, including psychiatrists, psychologists, residential counselors, a Registered Nurse, teachers and educational aides, and an occupational therapist,work with each girl to return her to community life as quickly as possible. They also work with the girls' families to restore and strengthen the family unit.

But members of the Local 503 bargaining say that low wages and benefits make it impossible for residential counselors at the facility to stay very long, effectively destabilizing living conditions for a high-risk population sorely in need of consistent guidance and support.

"I feel fair wages will increase commitment from workers and directly benefit clients," said Jessica Selser. a 30-year-old residential skills specialist who is paid just $10.50 an hour with minimal benefits even though she has a bachelor's degree in social work and experience in a middle school and in home services.

"I enjoy working with people and enjoy the team of workers at Rosemont. I recently moved closer to work and am getting rid of my car because I can't afford the maintenance and gas. But I have no incentive to stay here longer than a year without raises."