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