[caption id="attachment_935" align="alignleft" width="250"]SEIU members working at Meharry Medical College in Nashville.[/caption]

Local 205 recently stopped Meharry from cutting vacation accrual without bargaining with the union.

To avoid possible layoffs or deeper cuts, the union committee agreed to a one-year reduction. In exchange, Meharry agreed to no budget-related layoffs and committed to continue providing three additional personal paid days at the holidays. Meharry also agreed to continue contractual step raises and to not propose any pay cuts in wage negotiations that happen in November.

“With the support of our fellow members we were able to negotiate an agreement that protected jobs,” says Cory Cole, an electrician and union steward. “I cannot stress enough the importance of our union. They help give us a voice, and make our working environment a better and safer one.”