In recent years at Kimberly Hall, they kept taking benefits away from us. We used to have a uniform allowance. They took that away. We used to have a 30 minute paid lunch every day. They took that away. If you want benefits like health insurance, sick time, vacation or paid holidays, they take 15% of your hourly wage. For example, if you’re hired at $11.00 per hour, once they take out the 15% for benefits, you really only get paid $9.35 per hour.

Then there’s health insurance. Last year, to get family coverage, it cost about $85 per week. This year they raised it to $120 per week, so I had to take my family off the coverage. We can’t afford it. I have three kids and a husband, and now they don’t have health insurance. Thank God I have a healthy family.

For people that have never been in a union, I always tell them it’s better to pay about a $30 per month in union dues than $120 every week for family health insurance! Plus, when you’re in the union you get sick days, paid holidays and paid vacation.

Management at Kimberly Hall told everyone that it could take a year to get a contract, and that then 1199 would make us go on strike. I don’t trust the management at all. I’ve worked in other union places. I know better.

Aline LaPlante