Just six hours after the Tompkins County Suicide and Prevention Crisis Service staff voted to unionize, management made moves to voluntarily recognize the union.
The decision comes two weeks after management initially sent a letter to workers from an anti-union lawyer, according to Ithaca Journal. The The Crisis Counselors of Suicide and Prevention Services (SPCS) cites increased job stress and lack of management support as the reason behind unionizing efforts.
The SPCS staff will join Communication Workers of America Union Local 111. The crisis line currently employs ten non-management workers.
“It’s a really positive thing that they decided to voluntarily recognize it,” said Pete Meyers, coordinator of the Tompkins County Workers’ Center (TCWC).
The Crisisline is a locally-staffed hotline available 365 days a year. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
Read the SPCS’ full mission statement here.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]