In early May, workers at the Covanta SEMASS waste to energy power plant in Rochester voted to join Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 369. Local 369 represents employees at 85% of power generating plants in Massachusetts, but workers at SEMASS, who convert rubbish and waste into a fine powder used for electricity generation, are the first members of the local to work at a waste to energy plant.

The organizing campaign began in February, 2008, when a group of workers contacted UWUA National Representative Bob Mahoney and expressed interest in joining Local 369. Mahoney, along with Local 369 organizer Paul Doyle, worked with SEMASS employees to gain support for the union, and less than two months after the campaign began, workers voted to join the local. After the vote, organizer Paul Doyle stated, "Organizing drives are a lot of hard work, but when you watch the expressions of enthusiasm and hope on the workers of SEMASS as we watch them win the vote count, it was all worth it."

National Rep Bob Mahoney commended the efforts of the SEMASS employees in the organizing drive, saying, "I am very proud of our new members at SEMASS for their dedication, solidarity and commitment to becoming members of the UWUA." He also stated that the SEMASS effort is part of an ongoing effort to organize workers, both locally and nationally. "UWUA National President Michael Langford issued a directive to organize, organize, organize and that is exactly what we did and will continue to do in order for the UWUA to increase our membership." UWUA Local 369 has already started to reach out to other Covanta plants in the region.

Contract negotiations began in early July for the SEMASS bargaining unit, and the initial meetings with company representatives were cordial and productive. UWUA Local 369 President Gary Sullivan noted encouraging signs from the meetings between the bargaining committee and the company. "It is good to hear about positive progress from any Bargaining Committee, like Covanta granting us access to Plant Bulletin Boards, which is often a contentious issue."

The positive nature of the talks is a good indication that workers at SEMASS will achieve the quality wages and benefits that they deserve, while doing the valuable work of converting waste from our communities into electricity. Local 369's successful organizing drive is just the latest example in a trend of unions organizing workers in the Commonwealth's emerging renewable, clean and green energy sector.