UE Local 613, which has represented teachers, nurses, speech pathologists and other professionals at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children since 1998, has won voluntary recognition from their employer for an additional group of workers at their school.

The physical and occupational therapists who work at the school “have always been pay-for-performance, working without any kind of real consistent contract,” Local 613 President Alison Oniboni told the UE NEWS. The therapists and the aides who work with them have tried to organize “on and off,” with their last attempt in 2018 hitting several barriers, including “people being scared of retaliation.”

However, the group’s organizing “started to build up momentum” again this school year, said Oniboni. “This time around, there were enough people motivated and driven to organize, then they approached the school with their majority [of] cards signed.”

In March, the school agreed to voluntarily recognize the workers’ desire to be represented by Local 613. The therapists will be incorporated into the Local 613 contract during the local’s next set of contract negotiations, which will begin this month.

“They’re super excited; everybody in 613 is super excited for them to join us,” said Oniboni. “We’re off to the races now.”