A union activist and employee of an Old Town homeless shelter
has been put on a “work plan” by her supervisors, she believes, in
retaliation for speaking out about low wages for shelter employees.
Rachel Hansen, a veterans’ caseworker at Transition Projects, Inc.
(TPI) was quoted in the Mercury last month in an article about
members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME) union threatening to strike over a promised pay rise
that has been delayed for TPI workers since last June [“Spare Some
Change?” News, Dec 18, 2008].
The Mercury interviewed Hansen outside TPI’s shelter at NW
5th and Glisan on December 12. She says she received a letter from her
supervisor, Steven Carreker, on December 16, directing her to spend
less time talking with clients, and focus instead on getting more of
them into permanent housing. In his letter Carreker quoted an informal
lunchtime conversation about a client between Hansen and TPI boss
Doreen Binder, writing, “It appeared to Doreen that Rachel was not
concerned about the client’s mental health needs being met or the
client’s general success.”
“But what I’ve heard from other people is that Doreen decides who
she wants to fire and she just finds a way to do it,” says Hansen. “I
feel unduly and unjustly targeted for my union activity.”
Hansen says she was talking—during the informal lunchtime
conversation with Binder—about how she felt she never had enough
time to service the needs of each client properly. Hansen had felt
positive about the conversation, not that it would be used as grounds
for discipline.
Upon hearing about her work plan, Hansen’s fellow shelter employees
have voted her employee of the month for January 2009.
Research done by AFSCME shows that the average salary for TPI
workers is $26,748, and that it would cost just $66,000 to give
employees the 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase they are seeking.
Meanwhile, TPI has averaged $250,000 in excess revenues over expenses
since 2000, according to AFSCME.
Binder, whose salary is listed as $82,422 on TPI’s tax return for
the year 2006-2007, did not respond to a call from the Mercury seeking comment on Hansen’s allegations by press time.
I think it’s been clear for a long time that homeless shelter workers are over paid as it is. When I see them feeding their families with NAME BRAND mac n’ cheese or hamburger helper it makes me sick! I know one shelter worker who actually drives a 1989 Honda Civic! This flaunting of funds is obsene, and this is just further proof that they’re all in it for the money and in not concerned about the client’s mental health needs being met or the client’s general success.
Average starting wage for a AFSCME Union Organizer according to their website: $39,956 (include free family health coverage, car allowance, 13 paid holidays, 401k, pension plan and more).
I am a honorably discharged veteran and I was case managed by Rachel Hansen during my time spent at TPI. At no time did I feel Miss Hansen was doing anything less than what she was able to do for me. To suggest that Rachel Hansen might not be concerned about a client’s mental health, or that she fails to do all she can to assist her client’s in their attempts to obtain some type of permanent housing to me is a less than fair statement. I believe Rachel Hansen is always concerned with each of her client’s overall success. However, I sometimes sensed that perhaps her options for me were somewhat limited. Hence Rachel’s frustrations with the system. Moreover, I imagine that each client’s case is unique and therefore presents a unique set of obsticle for her to overcome. Surely Rachel’s job cannot be an easy one. Yet I never felt she was lacking in mine or any other client’s general overall success. Furthermore Rachel, you have every right to advocate for yourself and for others in your kind of work without any fear of retribution.
Best Wishes,