The following should be added to The List of Departed 888 Staff:
Atty. Joshua Coleman, hired in early 2008 as Director of Grievances & Arbitrations. Position eliminated in March/April 2008.
Atty. John Maher, retired Arlington town counsel, hired as a bargaining representative in April 2008, resigned approximately three months later.
Atty. Marsha Graham, hired February 2008 as Director of the Member Resource Center, laid off on October 17, 2008 "due to serious fiscal issues."
Long-time staffer Tina Hayes, who represented members in grievances that came through the MRC, laid off on October 17, 2008 "due to serious fiscal issues."
Atty. Glenna Wyman, bargaining representative hired in March 2008, laid off on October 17, 2008 "due to serious fiscal issues."
Unknown attorney hired to start as a bargaining representative on October 20, 2008, notified October 17 or over the weekend before his start date that his position was eliminated due to serious fiscal issues.
Related news as of 10-19-08: Patrice Devin is expected to staff the Member Resource Center, overseen by staff attorney Harold Jones, hired in April 2008.
(Devin is infamous among the staff for creeping around the office and listening at closed doors so she can report them to Segat for their supposed disloyalties. In no way should she ever be trusted to give advice on even a Step 1 grievance. She simply has no clue. - Change888)
That is the extent of the MRC staff.
It is rumored that grievances will now be handled by Local 888's four "Engagement Representatives," three of whom were hired in February 2008 with no union background/experience and no training.
Local 888's "serious fiscal issues" rumored to include the following: E-Board treasurer Fred Fantini's recent review of 888's books raised concerns about solvency; post-Columbus Day meetings with state officials indicate projected layoffs may substantially reduce dues revenue; high legal bills incurred for, among other things, arbitrations assigned to outside counsel after loss of internal legal staff, and legal responses to chapters seeking to decertify.
October 19, 2008 4:27 PM
