On June 26th Rep. Maria Chappelle- Nadal visited AFSCME Council 72 members at Hawthorn Children’s Psychiatric Hospital to see first hand AFSCME members working conditions. Rep. Chappelle- Nadal has a personal connection to Hawthorne as her Grandmother was a volunteer at the facility before the program was discontinued. Before joining the State Legislature the Representative was also a state employee which makes her particularly interested in AFSCME members' working conditions.
High on Rep. Chappelle- Nadal’s priority list was hearing about seniority issues with state workers. When she was told that seniority was not being followed and past time working for the state no longer counts toward seniority after time off working in the private sector she said "that's my first bill next session."
The tour was lead by AFSCME members John Norman and Penny McGee and they visited every part of the facility. On the tour the Representative spoke with many members who spoke to her about staffing and overtime issues. The Representative assured AFSCME Council 72 members that she would support them in upcoming contract negations.
