New Hope Vocational staff returned to work on Thursday, following a meeting with the New Hope CEO on meeting demands after striking for not receiving the same raise as the rest of the New Hope Staff. It was on Sept. 26 that New Hope Direct Support Professionals (DSP) staff would all be receiving a raise, except for Vocational Staff. In a letter sent to the vocational staff from CEO Jennifer Quigley, it states that the raises that vocational staff were given deemed to be fair and appropriate and that staff have been getting consistent raises over the last eighteen months, showing that management values staff members’ role and contributions to New Hope. Vocational staff were offered a two percent increase in wages that went into effect on Oct. 1. Staff members were displeased with the amount of the raise, demanding more respect, and being treated as part of a unified team as their other coworker counterparts. Vocational staff disagreed that due to the training required for dayhab staff, job coaches, and job developers to have, as well as the filling in working in homes during staff shortages, a two percent increase was not adequate for the demand of the job. Most New Hope Vocational staff returned to work while still fighting for their rights because they wanted to do what was best for their clients.
