Direct care workers at the Rose Brooks Center approached LIUNA Local 955 with interest in forming a union. The workers, who directly provide the services and care for domestic violence victims, are organizing for safe working conditions, better outcomes for the survivors they serve, higher wages, and paid family leave. The workers currently have secured a majority of their co-workers who have signed union authorization cards with LIUNA Local 955. These workers self-organized their co-workers without outside union assistance.
Missouri Jobs with Justice, LIUNA Local 955, two Jackson County Legislators, representatives from The Labor Beacon, the Missouri AFL-CIO, the Heartland Labor Forum, and other community organizations engaged in discussions with Rose Brooks CEO, Lisa Fleming, on April 11, 2024, urging voluntary recognition of the Rose Brooks Workers’ Union. CEO Fleming acknowledged the community delegation’s concerns and commitment to voluntary recognition. A subsequent meeting was agreed upon, involving community leaders and a LIUNA Union Representative that has experience in the field of social work.
However, despite a prompt email follow-up on April 11th, LIUNA’s representative received no response regarding the meeting request. Another email was sent on April 15th for further follow-up. Fleming responded on April 15th, stating, “Our full Board meeting is scheduled for this Thursday. I need to share this request with them. I will get back to you after the meeting.” When asked if she planned to recommend voluntary recognition to the Board, Fleming did not respond. Subsequently, during a worker delegation later that week, Fleming refused to provide an answer regarding her recommendation to the board.
In response to the worker’s request for voluntary recognition, the Rose Brooks board has hired a national union-busting law firm specializing in “Union Avoidance” and has launched an aggressive union-busting campaign. Fleming has sent letters to employees that argue the Union will charge outrageous union dues & fees (which is factually incorrect), that the community delegation was taking photographs of clients, (which is incorrect) and even implied that union organizing would potentially harm survivors and get the shelter out of compliance with VAWA. (Violence Against Women Act)
LIUNA has sent a letter stating all of this information to the Jackson County Legislature, the Jackson County Prosecutor, and the Kansas City, Missouri City Council asking elected officials who support domestic violence survivors and the many workers who are directly responsible for providing care for survivors to do the following:
Call the Rose Brooks CEO, Lisa Fleming, and kindly ask her to:
- Immediately cease union-busting communications
- Reconsider her strategy of opposing a collective bargaining unit and commit to union neutrality
- Voluntarily recognize LIUNA Local 955
If you are a funder of Rosebrooks or have a relationship with another funder, please ask them to have a conversation with Lisa requesting Rose Brooks stop union busting.
If you are a union member, please use the QR code on the front page to engage with this campaign. These workers need your help!
LIUNA stated the following: “When workers can adequately provide for their families and reduce reliance on social services, they can offer better care to the survivors they serve. Our endeavor to establish a union at Rose Brooks was initiated in response to workers’ appeals for assistance, and it remains propelled by their steadfast dedication. We deeply value your support for working families.”
Many former workers at Rose Brooks have publicly commented on The Labor Beacon’s Instagram post saying they support the workers and sharing their stories and frustrations from working at Rose Brooks.
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
