Resolution - Local Social Workers — File 24-1627

A Resolution in Support of Local Social Workers WHEREAS: Somerville is home to many SEIU 509 social workers who, as part of the Cambridge-Burlington DCF Area office, passed a vote of no confidence against their Director on October 15th, 2024; and WHEREAS: This Director allegedly enabled the passage of such a vote through a pattern of disregarding agency policies and obligation as well as numerous instances of intimidation, retaliation, wage theft, and dismissal of employee safety concerns; and WHEREAS: The Somerville City Council recognizes, as Somerville Stands Together recently noted in their letter to the DCF Commissioner, that this “office culture is detrimental to the safety, mental health, hiring and retention of well qualified employees, which in turn impacts their workload and therefore family safety”; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council calls on the DCF Commissioner to place the Director of the Cambridge-Burlington DCF Area office on administrative leave until a thorough investigation of these allegations can be conducted.