Aug 09 2012

By the numbers

Posted by: Kevin B. Gilnack, Campaign Manager

Members of The Caring Force did a pretty incredible thing this year: they secured the first raise for human service workers in five years.

The budget cycle spans nearly six months from the time the Governor submits his initial budget proposal until the time the Governor signs a compromise proposal agreed upon by both chambers of the legislature. And it gets even longer when you have to face a veto.

But that's exactly what members of The Caring Force did. The Caring Force launched in late November of 2011, and by January, 2012, our members hit the ground running.

Take a look at some of the highlights:

  • December 15 2012 - Feburary 1, 2012: Nearly 740 members of The Caring Force urge legislators not to allow the income tax reduction to harm human services
  • April 1, 2012: more than 2,000 members of The Caring Force shut down the state house at a rally for fair funding
  • April 9, 2012 - April 24, 2012: more than 600 members of The Caring Force ask their representative to co-sponsor a Salary Reserve budget amendment
  • April 23, 2012: More than 100 representative co-sponsor the Salary Reserve budget amendment
  • April 23, 2012 - May 16, 2012: more than 350 members of The Caring Force ask their senators to ask leadership to include the Salary Reserve in the budget
  • May 11, 2012 - May 24, 2012: nearly 280 members of The Caring Force ask their senators to co-sponsor a budget amendment for the Salary Reserve
  • May 19, 2012: 60% of the Senate co-sponsors the Salary Reserve budget amendment
  • May 23, 2012: more than 200 members of The Caring Force return for a lobby day to encourage the Senate to support the Salary Reserve
  • May 24, 2012: Senate unanimously approves budget containing a Salary Reserve
  • June 7, 2012 - June 25, 2012: 370 members of The Caring Force urge the House to include the Salary Reserve in the conference committee budget
  • June 26, 2012 - July 9, 2012: more than 775 members of The Caring Force urge Gov. Patrick to support the Salary Reserve
  • July 10, 2012 - July 19, 2012: more than 1,300 members of The Caring Force urge legislators to override Gov. Patrick's veto
  • July 23, 2012 - present: more than 720 members of The Caring Force have thanked their legislators for overriding the Governor's veto

Your dedication and advocacy throughout the process are what enabled us to be successful, but next year will be even harder. Can you take a second now to share The Caring Force and invite your friends, family, and co-workers to join the fight?

Advocacy isn't always easy, and sometimes it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the bottom line is this: so long as members of The Caring Force continue speaking out and continue encouraging others to join us, our legislators will continue to hear us and work with us to strengthen our human services system.

Thank you for all that you've done -- and for all that you will do.