Mississippi News
Maximus workers in Hattiesburg strike again
Maximus workers in Hattiesburg strike again, calling out timed bathroom breaks and COVID-19 policies
Federally contracted call center workers are striking in Hattiesburg for the third time this year โ this time, taking aim at bathroom breaks and time off policies related to COVID-19.ย
Maximus call center workers, who are tasked with handling customer service calls for Medicare, the Affordable Care Act marketplace and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have been vocal for months in their union efforts and calls for workplace reforms.ย
Some of the latest criticisms come from workers who take CDC information calls and say the call center isn’t giving workers the proper time off if they test positive for COVID-19.ย
โRight now, some of us only get one day of paid leave when we test positive for COVID-19, even though the CDC recommends that anyone who tests positive for COVID quarantine for at least five days,โ Hattiesburg worker Jennifer Dundit said in a statement. โTherefore, if we don’t have any accrued time off, we might be unable to properly quarantine to recover and help prevent community spread.โย
In a statement, Maximus said it follows the CDC’s workplace guidelines. Workers, the company says, have โ24 hours of paid administrative leave,” which equates to three eight-hour shifts, if they test positive. But call center workers told Mississippi Today they only get one day off before having to dip into their earned time off โ and that’s if they’ve accrued it. Often, they say, workers have to take unpaid time off while isolating โ something they usually cannot afford.ย
Call center workers in Bogalusa, La. also protested outside a Maximus call center Monday. Both groups have been calling for better wages since in-person protests began in March. Workers make about $15 an hour โย $31,000 to $35,000 a year before taxes.ย
Maximus’ Hattiesburg workers are about 80% female, according to union group Call Center Workers United. Despite the largely female workforce, workers say in addition to poor time-off policies they’re also given strict six-minute bathroom break rules outside of their allotted 15-minute breaks and 30-minute lunches.ย After the story published, Maximus clarified that “bathroom breaks are allowed for everyone and can be longer than 6 minutes if needed.”
READ MORE: Starbucks employees and others trying to unionize in Mississippi face decades-old hardships
โWe need more than six minutes to use the bathroom,โ Dundit said, โand should not have to risk discipline or shame for doing so.โย
Maximus did not respond directly to the bathroom-break allegations, instead pointing out workers get two short breaks and one long lunch break during an 8-hour workday.
Since March, workers have called out Maximus for exorbitant health insurance costs. Workers have told Mississippi Today they struggle to stretch their paychecks to cover food, bills and basic medical costs.
Call Center Workers United recently announced a new โsolidarity fundโ to help support workers who choose to walk off the job in protest of working conditions.ย
Maximus cut health insurance deductibles from $4,500 to $2,500 since workers began speaking out. Maximus has said it meets regularly with employees to address issues and has a hotline where workers can report complaints anonymously.ย
โWe welcome the opportunity to work directly with our employees and discuss and hopefully resolve their concerns,โ Maximus told Mississippi Today after May’s protest. โWe respect our employees’ legal right to attempt to organize, and any information we provide is designed to help them make an informed decision about union representation.โ
Clarification 8/8/22: This story was updated with more detail about Maximus’ COVID-19 leave and bathroom break policies.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo
SUMMARY: In Tupelo, Mississippi, 19-year-old Joshua James and a juvenile face charges related to a police pursuit and the theft of a police car. James is charged with Directing a Felony to Be Committed by a Person Under Seventeen, Grand Larceny, and Felony Fleeing, with a bond set at $100,000. The incident began on November 1 when police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. After a chase that ended when the stolen truck crashed south of Verona, James was apprehended, while his juvenile passenger fled in a police car, which was later found wrecked. The juvenile’s case will be handled in Youth Court.
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The post Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas
SUMMARY: The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has secured funding to construct storm shelters in Crawford, Artesia, and Plum Grove, areas lacking local shelter during severe weather. Each community will receive four FEMA-funded shelters, accommodating up to 20 people each, on government property at a total cost of $103,692, with FEMA contributing $93,000. The supervisors anticipate these shelters will significantly enhance safety for residents during storms. Vice President Jeff Smith highlighted their importance, expressing relief for community members who have long awaited a secure refuge. While installation timelines remain unclear, the project is expected to proceed soon.
The post Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโt vote’
SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a local news anchor for WLOX in Biloxi for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social media. He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a video where he advised people not to vote out of hatred for Donald Trump. Elliott characterized his social media posts as satire, distinguishing them from his professional work. He noted that the discussion with his station’s general manager about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.
The post News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, don’t vote’ appeared first on www.foxnews.com
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