Mississippi News
Maximus workers strike in Hattiesburg
More than 200 Maximus call center workers strike in Hattiesburg, demand better working conditions
HATTIESBURG — Seconds after Tiffany Murray says she was sexually harassed by a man who dialed 1-800-Medicare, she was supposed to be ready for the next caller.
Murray, 37, said she didn't have the time to collect herself after the first time he called. Or when he called again the next day.
He wanted to know how she looked in stockings, Murray recalled. He called her slurs. She said she heard him pleasuring himself on the other end.
“I had no time to recover from that,” she told Mississippi Today. “There is no time in between.”
Because when one call ends, another one is almost always waiting – no matter how cruel or inappropriate the previous customer was, according to Maximus call center workers who spoke with Mississippi Today.
Murray is one of hundreds of federally contracted workers employed by Maximus' Hattiesburg office. She was also one of more than 200 workers who went on strike outside of the call center Tuesday. It was the fourth strike Maximus workers have held since the beginning of the year. Workers spent the morning calling for $25-an-hour pay, more support from supervisors, and better protection from abusive callers.
Tuesday marked the start of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, which is one of the main agencies for which Maximus workers take customer calls. That means workers are entering their busiest time of the year managing 50 to 100 callers or more a day.
Calls can last a few minutes or more than an hour.
“We are never supposed to just hang up on people,” Murray said, referring to abusive callers. “We have to make a continued effort to give them a chance to correct their behavior.”
Murray and other workers said they are directed to give three warnings before hanging up – something Maxius said in a statement is not required.
Murray said when she reported the man who was sexually inappropriate, her supervisor didn't react. In a statement, Maximus said workers can end a call “immediately” if a caller is “persistently inappropriate or obscene.”
Workers want up to 30 minutes they can use over an eight-hour shift to take short breaks between calls – time to collect their thoughts, recover from an abusive caller, or take notes about a particular incident.
Maximus says its break schedule has enough flexibility as is: Workers are given two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch.
“Maximus respects the dignity and wellbeing of our employees,” the company said in its statement. “While we haven't seen evidence of a growing trend in abusive or obscene calls, we have a very clear Standard Operating Procedure to protect our employees when we occasionally receive such calls.”
Maximus workers are not formally unionized but have been organizing on and off for the last several years. Efforts peaked this year, with Tuesday's strike being their highest attended so far.
Keaira Mark, 23, is looking for a second job because her rent is about to go up $100 a month. The Hattiesburg resident has been working at Maximus for almost three years, handling phone calls for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“If I miss even an hour of work (at Maximus), I'd be this close to missing rent and risk being evicted,” Mark said, while holding her pointer finger and thumb barely an inch apart.
She is seeking out a part-time food delivery job to supplement her income so she has at least a small cushion.
“I wish I could focus on bettering my career,” she said, “but I'm just trying to find another job to pay the bills.”
About 650 workers handed in pledges to strike across four Maximus locations Tuesday, according to the Call Center Workers of America union. Half of them signed in to strike in Hattiesburg, according to the union. Workers met outside the call center off Highway 49 to march at 8 a.m. before gathering near the office's parking lot.
Some workers chanted from nearby parking lots, keeping guard of their vehicles as tow trucks lurked. One car was towed from the Maximus parking lot, dragged across the pavement in front of a wall of protestors dressed in red.
Workers have already had some success in pushing the company to lower health care deductibles – though most are still calling for better coverage.
“Maximus welcomes the opportunity to work directly with our employees and discuss and hopefully resolve their concerns,” the company said in a statement. “Over the past several years, Maximus has improved pay and compensation, reduced employees' out-of-pocket health care expenses and improved work processes and safety. We continue to look for ways to assure that Maximus is an employer of choice.”
During the height of the pandemic, their hourly pay was bumped to $15 an hour. The pay hike came into effect just before President Joe Biden's executive order required all federally contracted workers to be paid at that rate.
Workers say their job requires a set of skills deserving of a wage increase. Workers are regularly helping callers navigate complex government programs such as Medicare and the health insurance marketplace. They say they deserve wages that more closely match those of federal employees who aren't working for contract companies – especially as inflation continues to push up the cost of living.
Energy was high Tuesday. Even workers who didn't strike drove by honking their horns in support.
Murray, the Medicare line worker, strolled around the gathered group with a portable microphone and speaker on wheels, hyping up coworkers. She encouraged them to share their own stories by chanting “let's talk about it.”
“We want change,” Murray bellowed into her mic. “And we don't mean pennies.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Mississippi man falls into healthcare coverage gap
SUMMARY: Roughly 200,000 working Mississippians, including Ken Allen, could have access to healthcare if Medicaid is fully expanded in the state. Allen, who works as a custodian, cannot afford insurance and has been denied Medicaid multiple times. He and his family struggle with health issues and have limited options without insurance. Mississippi faith leaders are also advocating for Medicaid expansion. Lawmakers are currently discussing the possibility of expansion, with the hope of including those making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Allen emphasizes the importance of providing healthcare to those in need, urging lawmakers to reach an agreement on Medicaid expansion soon.
The post Mississippi man falls into healthcare coverage gap appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Agencies develop strategies to improve safety on trail rides
SUMMARY: Trail rides in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, originally meant for horseback riding, now involve off-road vehicles like ATVs and UTVs. Law enforcement agencies are working to enhance safety on these rides due to increasing injuries and fatalities. Permits are not required for hosting these events, but organizers should be aware of the consequences if something goes wrong, such as underage drinking. Mississippi prohibits driving off-road vehicles on public roads. Columbus Police Department deals with the spillover from trail rides held in Lowndes County. Overall, law enforcement is focusing on regulation and community awareness to prevent future tragedies.
The post Agencies develop strategies to improve safety on trail rides appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Willis Miller found guilty of crashing into ATV, killing child
SUMMARY: In Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, a jury found Willis Miller guilty of crashing into an ATV and killing a child while under the influence. The incident occurred in April 2022, resulting in the death of a child named Gabby Frazier. Miller was convicted of aggravated DUI and aggravated assault. The jury took about 30 minutes to reach a verdict. Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18. This tragic event highlights the consequences of driving under the influence and the importance of responsible behavior on the road.
The post Willis Miller found guilty of crashing into ATV, killing child appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
Mississippi News4 days ago
Mississippi will soon be bombarded with cicadas
-
SuperTalk FM3 days ago
4 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi during latest round of severe storms
-
SuperTalk FM4 days ago
2 Jones County correctional officers arrested in smuggling bust
-
Mississippi News5 days ago
Columbus schools may see needed upgrades with bond issue
-
Local News3 days ago
Almost 3,500 Mississippi Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in past 365 days, 28% increase over last year
-
SuperTalk FM15 hours ago
Chance of parole denied for man who killed 3 Choctaw Indian tribal members
-
SuperTalk FM6 days ago
Explosion at elementary school in Mississippi Delta hospitalizes two employees
-
Kaiser Health News17 hours ago
To Stop Fentanyl Deaths in Philadelphia, Knocking on Doors and Handing Out Overdose Kits