On Friday, January 27th, 2006 employees working in the adult services at the Homestead Group (formerly the ARC of Northern Rhode Island) voted by a margin of 103-77 to organize a local union affiliated with the United Nurses and Allied Professionals. Homestead is a not-for-profit human service agency providing supports and services for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

Jack Callaci, an organizer for the union said, "We believe that employees will now have the strength and the resources to achieve important positive improvements at the agency that none could achieve as individual employees."

The newly organized employees will adopt a constitution, elect officers and a negotiating team and begin the process of negotiating a first contract with the agency. Callaci said, "We look forward to negotiating a contract with Homestead that provides for an effective voice on the job, greater job security, legal rights, input into important decision making and improved pay."

Union supporters also recognize the important work that has to be done to build greater support for fully funding the important programs that Homestead employees provide. Such work will include coalition building in the community and increasing legislative awareness.

The United Nurses and Allied Professionals is an independent health care and human services union representing over 4,500 members primarily in Rhode Island.

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