Doing the Deed(s)

SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

Faced with layoffs, the staff at the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds took a temporary cut in hours. They succeeded in saving everyone's job and in fighting privatization.

The workers had seen their boss do everything possible to reduce costs. "He was cutting every corner he could. We had no money for supplies, for postage, for equipment repair," says Local 653 (Council 93) Pres. Joyce Jagodynski. He had worked hard to prevent layoffs, but finally, there didn't seem to be any alternatives.

"We had a union meeting," says Jagodynski. "The staff rep said that management had to make cuts: We could voluntarily go to a four-day week or 12 to 16 workers would be laid off." The discussion was lively. The layoffs would have affected the younger workers, including a lot of single mothers.

Even though a shorter week meant a 20 percent cut in pay, the vote to accept it was almost unanimous. "At least everybody would be working," Jagodynski explains. "You have to stand together when you have a problem like this. How can you let your fellow worker not work at all?"

BUCKING THE BACKLOG. The next couple of months were hard. The agency had been understaffed to begin with; now the staff was really struggling. With mortgage rates way down, people were buying and refinancing homes in record numbers. "We were five times busier than we had ever been," says Jagodynski. "We did five days' work in four days." The backlog grew. No one could get the checks deposited. Without money for postage, workers had to ask residents to pick up their documents in person.

Throughout this time, the registers of deeds across the state — with strong support from Council 93 — had been pressing the state for more financial support. Finally, their plea was heard. The legislature raised fees for registry services and allowed the offices to retain a portion of the increase. Now the backlog had to be cleared.

Management brought in a contractor to scan documents. Local 653 objected and negotiated an agreement: This would be a temporary assignment, and the contractor was barred from doing bargaining-unit work. All employees were returned to full-time status, with the right to work as much voluntary overtime as they wished on backlogged projects. Additional staff will soon be hired.

Things are almost back to normal, says Jagodynski. The privatized work is almost finished. The residents' checks have been deposited. And the registry is only a few months behind in mailing out the paperwork. Something else important has happened. The workers who would have lost their jobs are very grateful to their union sisters and brothers. It was a real struggle and sacrifice, but they all shared both. That's solidarity!

— Susan Ellen Holleran