Casa of Maryland Guild Unit Wins Three-Year Contract

After several weeks of rallies and protests, the Guild won a new contract with Casa of Maryland that increases wages by more than 13 percent and that for the first time helps pay for health insurance for dependents of WBNG-represented employees.

The contract includes 4 percent across-the-board increases in each year of the three-year contract. Upgrades for several positions and a 5 percent increase for employees making less than $32,000 boost the overall first-year increase to an average of 4.8 percent.

For the first time, Casa will now pay a portion (40 percent) of the health insurance premiums for employee dependents. Employees’ health insurance is 100 percent paid by Casa.

Other gains include increased time off for exempt employees; increased money for education and training; increased notice in case of layoffs; a guarantee of two days off for employees regularly scheduled to work weekends; compensatory time for overtime-exempt employees required to work holidays; and four weeks notice for holiday work.

The previous contract expired June 30, and Casa Guild unit members were relentless in pushing for an acceptable agreement. One mobilization highlight: About 20 Casa members crashed a Casa Executive Board meeting. The meeting had been moved to a secret location but the members found it, and sent a clear message to the Casa board.

The new contract, overwhelmingly ratified by members on July 18, covers approximately 45 employees of the immigrant-support organization, including attorneys, organizers, educational staff, and clerical workers.