Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center management confirmed today that the agency’s Board of Directors have approved a two-year contract with Local 1674 of AFSCME Council 93, which represents 702 Howard Center direct care workers, 127 of whom are members of the union. The agency employs over 1,500 employees.
Executive Director Bob Bick says, “I am very pleased that we have reached this agreement. We can now provide additional compensation to our direct care workers and work together with our union staff to continue to focus on our shared commitment to our clients and community. And, I look forward to working collaboratively to advocate for the improved funding support that is so necessary to sustain the progress we have made with this contract. Despite our agency’s long-standing commitment to our clients and community, the State cannot continue to under-fund our services with zero or near-zero increases, accompanied by programmatic cuts, while hospitals and state employees receive consistent and measurable annual increases. It is unrealistic to continue to provide disproportionately inadequate resources and expect that we can attract and retain the staff necessary to meet the very significant programmatic and client services demands we are asked to meet.”
Howard Center offers life-saving professional crisis and counseling services to children and adults; supportive services to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities who need help with education, employment, and life maintenance skills; counseling and medical services for those struggling with substance use disorders, and intensive interventions and supports for adults with serious and persistent mental health challenges. Last year we helped more than 16,000 people. Howard Center is a funded agency of the United Way of Chittenden County.