Meet the Chapter Leadership Slate

I work at North Suffolk Community Services as an outpatient clinician for clients receiving DDS and DMH services. I’m a Union Steward, a Joint Executive Board member, and a leader in my bargaining unit. I’ve seen our Private Sector accomplish great feats, but I believe we can become even stronger and more successful than ever before! Our chapter represents 27 human services agencies across Massachusetts, all with similar needs and goals; yet, our agencies are isolated from each other, with no solid way to organize and build power together. If elected Chapter President, I will work with members in EVERY agency to build a united coalition that fights for what we need.

In the Private Sector we are facing attacks from all sides: 1) Management is trying to save money by denying us fair wages, 2) The federal government is making massive cuts to services that support our clients and fund our positions, and 3) Our immigrant union siblings and clients are being targeted by ICE raids, TPS removal, and absurd visa changes.

We can work together and fight back against these attacks! We have the strength of 27 human services agencies in our chapter, as well as incredible 509 members in state programs, childcare systems, and higher education.

If elected as Private Sector Human Services Chapter President, I’ll work with ALL of our members and the rest of the United We Win slate to fight for our collective needs, and against threats to us and the communities we serve!

I’m Thomasina Levesque and I’m running for Vice President of our Private Sector Human Service Chapter.

For 11 years, I’ve proudly served our union: as a steward, Chapter Board member, and officer on the Joint Executive Board. I know what it takes to fight, advocate, and deliver results for our members.

As your next Vice President, I’ll work with you to build a chapter that truly represents every agency we serve, not just a few. We need real organization, real results, and a Chapter Board that listens to every voice. I’ve proven that I can make it happen. From strengthening contracts to improving working conditions, I’ve fought and won for our members. I’ve helped grow new leaders who now stand strong in our union.

In 2024, I was honored to receive the Private Sector Steward of the Year Award for my dedication to members. That same commitment drives me today.

My vision is simple: unity, transparency, and representation for all. Together, we can bring our chapter back to its full strength—a chapter that’s built by and for every member. 

Let’s continue the work together. Vote Thomasina Levesque for Vice President, Private Sector Human Service Chapter!

I am Katy Scammell; candidate for DCF Chapter President; dedicated, tested, proven Union Leader; steward for 27 years in Brockton, Central and Plymouth; and nominated Vice President in 2018. My mission is to organize and strengthen our frontline workers.  I welcome the opportunity to take my determination, open and transparent communication, and passionate advocacy forward as President.

I’ve represented members in high profile cases and learned that being present, listening to members and holding management accountable protects us on the job.  I’ve taught managers the value of listening to staff.

I’ve represented victims of sexual harassment, made sure that managers could never harass another DCF worker and held managers who turned a blind eye accountable. I’ve represented victims of discrimination, exposing toxic managers and leaving the Department no choice but to terminate them. I’ve returned to work the wrongly disciplined, regained lost wages, and won financial settlements for the members victimized by bad managers.

When we win these fights workers become empowered. Through action we have shifted our workplaces from hostility to tolerance, we have bridged the divide between Union and Management. I’ve increased the power of our steward teams; lobbied state legislators about the child placement crisis, transportation, safety, problematic management, excluded group II, bargaining and alternative pathways for licensure; and always kept the members of my region informed of what I was doing. Let me do that agencywide as President.

I pledge to be a visible and available President, that members hear from via a newsletter, town halls, and open office hours.  We strengthen our Union by including members in discussions, and relaying information in real time. 

My name is Michael Ippoliti, and I’m running for Central Region Vice President for DCF. Our agency and union are facing challenges unlike any we have seen before, and we need a leader who is present, motivated, and transparent.

As a Chief Steward in two different offices, I have worked to rebuild respect for our union and strengthen member engagement. At my prior office, we built one of the strongest steward teams in yearswith record-low turnover.

If elected, I promise to answer your calls, visit your area offices, and fight for everyone. You can count on my full attention and dedication to improving contracts, working conditions, representation, and respect for all members.

I believe in teamwork, accountability, and action. I will listen carefully, act decisively,and face every challenge head-on.

Please vote for me this November because when we fight, we win!

Brothers and Sisters,

It has been my privilege to serve as your Chapter President. During these last three years, we increased member involvement and became stronger as a chapter.  We stood together, strongly fighting for pay equity that every DTA member deserves. DTA came out loud and strong and led the charge for the rest of the public sector.

I am proud of every single DTA member; you each bring something to the table, and together we truly are stronger. None of what we won would have been possible without your unity and support for one another, and for me. Thank you for the confidence and trust you have given me. Together, we have built a foundation of collaboration, transparency, and success.

To build on that foundation with you, I am seeking re-election as your Chapter President. I promise to continue to work in solidarity with you in promoting our goals and expectations for a fairer, less hostile work environment at DTA and in developing a more inclusive contract language for all.

Let's carry on strengthening our Chapter together. I respectfully ask for your vote to continue to work with you, as President of our Chapter, to make DTA a better and more just place to work.

Bio coming soon!

My name is Jim Badger-Aguilar. I work at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, where I serve as vice president of the MCB/MCDHH Chapter Board and on our union’s Joint Executive Board. I am running for president of the MCB/MCDHH Chapter as part of the United We Win slate. My mother immigrated from Honduras to Boston, where she met my father. I grew up bilingual in Spanish and English in a bicultural family. Many of my relatives came from Honduras and Guatemala, fleeing not only poverty but brutal U.S.-backed dictatorships. We lost family members to that violence. Coming of age during the worst of the fascist dictatorships in Central America, and participating in the solidarity movement of that time, I learned from experience that the working class—and especially the labor movement—are the only force that can consistently lead the fight against war, inequality, exploitation, and oppression.

Blind since birth, I also saw how disability discrimination is part of the same unjust system. With unemployment among the disabled at nearly 80%, I knew change required collective action. I have been active in the labor movement since the early 1990s—as a steward at the Boston Public Health Commission, at North Suffolk Mental Health, and since 2019, as a chapter board member at MCB/MCDHH.

At MCB, agency leadership continually reduced staffing even as caseloads grew, threatening the agency’s independence and future. By organizing together, we won real change, including the removal and replacement of a commissioner. During the past three years, under the leadership of our president, Dave Foley, our union has opened up bargaining and participation to our members in a way it never had before. As a result, state workers have won 19% raises. Now, as we face attacks from both state and federal administrations, this fight becomes even more urgent. We stand at a crossroads—with tremendous opportunities to build power, but also serious threats to our future. I stand for member participation, united action, and solidarity not just as ideals, but as the only means of building real power.

UNITED WE WIN!