As call center workers at Maximus and its subcontractors like Capitol Bridge, we work hard to serve our customers and help them access the healthcare they need. Our hard work powers the growth and the profits that generate millions of dollars for shareholders and executives, but many of us struggle to afford the basic things our families need to survive. Our working conditions and policies are insulting, disrespectful and unfair. In May of this year, over 700 of our co-workers were laid off with barely any notice. Maximus talks about its commitment to workers and to providing real career opportunities, but it treats us like we are disposable, even after years of service.

From the moment this company took over the CCO contract in 2018, we have called on Maximus leadership to respect our right to organize our union free from fear, intimidation and interference. We’ve visited your offices. We’ve asked for meetings. We’ve talked to elected officials and leaders in our communities. We’ve gone on strike five times because of problems in our workplaces. Maximus leadership has ignored our calls for fair treatment. Instead, management has resorted to intimidation tactics like calling the police on us, forcing us to listen to anti-union speech, implying that the call centers could close if we unionized, and offering bonuses to deter workers from going on strike. Enough is enough.

Maximus leadership could still choose to handle this another way. Major call center companies have chosen to respect workers’ rights to organize unions and bargain over the same kinds of issues we have raised at Maximus.

Maximus, it’s time to respect our right to organize free from intimidation, to hear our demand for fair working conditions, and give us the pay and benefits that we deserve. We should not have to strike, disrupting services for our customers, in order to make our voices heard.