Meet the hospital organizing team!
Bobbi-Jo Lewis: After spending 15 years as a stay-at-home mom and volunteering her time in community youth programs, Bobbi-Jo joined UMass in 2008. Soon after she became an activist within the SHARE union, helping make positive changes within the workplace. During the next 6 years, Bobbi-Jo held multiple jobs within UMass, including roles as a registration rep, ASR, and Medical Administrative Secretary before joining the SHARE staff full-time in 2014. Along with her work at SHARE , Bobbi-Jo enjoys playing volleyball and coaches the varsity volleyball team at Hudson High School.
Carol Hehir
Bio
Deb Engvall: Deb has probably been working here since before you were born, and in many different roles--as a PCA in the float pool, a Unit Secretary, Payroll and Scheduling... After getting laid off, Deb came back to work in solid organ transplant before going to work with the union. She knows what it's like to work here and the importance of work-life balance. After getting to know the union better she figured that she should become a rep to better understand what unions are all about. From there she has never looked back, and enjoys her work on the SHARE staff!
Deb Largesse
Bio
Elisabeth Szanto: Elisabeth caught the workplace democracy bug while supporting the organizing drive for the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers. She wanted to help more people form their own unions and ended up leading the organizing drive for SHARE at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial. She cares about workplace respect and economic progress. Over the last 30 years, issues have changed, managers have changed, and laws have changed, but the need for people to have a voice at work has remained constant. She has never believed that “because I said so” was a very good answer, and she enjoys using her background in math to negotiate progressive raises and wage systems.
Eve Feldberg: Eve has been involved in the labor movement since she joined the organizing efforts of janitorial staff at her college. She’s been hooked ever since, getting involved with community organizing through worker centers in Boston. She joined the staff at SHARE as an Organizing Fellow in the JOIN for Justice Jewish Organizing Fellowship, and loves to spend time getting to know members and building power by building community.
Jana Hollingsworth
Bio
Janet Wilder: Janet has been working for the union since 1991 when she helped to organize SHARE at UMass and Memorial. She believes that the hospital runs better when the employees have a voice and a say--it has a significant impact on people's work lives and on patient care. Her many years doing this work have led Janet to believe that being part of a union can be transformational, and that people can learn skills and grow int heir ability to make change in all parts of their lives.
Eve Feldberg: Eve has been involved in the labor movement since she joined the organizing efforts of janitorial staff at her college. She’s been hooked ever since, getting involved with community organizing through worker centers in Boston. She joined the staff at SHARE as an Organizing Fellow in the JOIN for Justice Jewish Organizing Fellowship, and loves to spend time getting to know members and building power by building community.
Kirk Davis: Kirk joined the SHARE staff in 2005 on the recommendation of a friend with whom he worked at the University of Michigan. (Word spreads.) Kirk believes in workplace democracy. He is married with two young children, one of whom is already a leukemia survivor. Working at SHARE during her years of treatment has helped him to develop a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between patients and caregivers, and about the importance of respect and compassion among everyone in the hospital community. Also, he likes to swim.
Marie Manna: Marie has worked as a union organizer since 1981--first with SHARE’s sister union, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers--helping to form and build our local around the ideas of participation, fairness, and respect for 25 years. She recently started working with SHARE in 2015 and has found it great to be part of this caring community. Marie's particular interest is making sure that staff participate in the work decisions that effect their jobs; she is particularly excited about SHARE's new effort of Unit Based Teams.
Melissa Markstrom: Melissa Markstrom has been a labor organizer for nine years, working with union members across a wide range of industries and job classifications throughout the country. In her work with healthcare unions, she has extensive experience working to improve the workplace and patient care from hospitals and ambulatory care to VA’s and habilitation facilities. In her previous position representing resident physicians, she facilitated sixteen member-led improvement initiatives. In college, Melissa studied community-based organizing in Kenya, working with indigenous people advocating for ancestral lands. Today, Melissa is working toward a master's degree in labor studies from UMass Amherst. Originally from Arizona, she loves exploring New England and is just learning to muddle her way through gardening--she's very proud of her tomatoes and green beans.
Will Erickson
Bio