WE are the union

Our union is its members who work every day to provide care, education, and support to the people of Massachusetts. We elect officers and hire staff, and their role is to help organize and lead the members of 509. Nothing can replace the power of organized workers. Our union needs to be democratic, not just in its leadership elections but in the decisions we make and the work we do every day. 

We organize for power

From state workers demanding an 8% raise to grad workers demanding dental insurance, our local has seen that we win by demanding what we need rather than listening to what the boss says is reasonable. Good arguments at the bargaining table can be helpful, but we know that power is what makes the boss listen. Our power comes from the work that we do to make state agencies, care homes, universities, and family childcare centers run. We believe in organizing to use that power and bringing workers together in solidarity to take action and win.

UNITED WE STAND, Divided we fall

Our union represents workers in many different workplaces across diverse sectors of the economy. This is our strength! Our union is at its most powerful when we bring workers across Massachusetts together to fight as one. Whether you work in a care home, teach at a university, or work for the Commonwealth, we believe you should bring the full strength and solidarity of our membership to every fight in your workplace.

One Struggle, One fight

509 members’ lives don’t stop when we leave the workplace, and our union’s advocacy shouldn’t end there either. We believe in organizing 509 members in every sphere of our lives, and taking on fights against racism, ableism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia and for racial justice, environmental justice, gender justice, and immigration justice. This isn’t a sideshow, this is part of the main event. Hatred and division weakens the working class, and the only way to beat the bosses is by standing together. Come for one, face us all!