(Chula Vista) -- MAAC Project employees today rallied outside MAAC Project headquarters after presenting management with a petition that outlined their ongoing frustration with contract bargaining.

During contract bargaining, MAAC Project management has attempted to erode the on-the-job rights of employees and implement a wage plan that will penalize long-time employees and reward new hires.

At the center of the wage dispute is the MAAC Project management’s plan to implement a wage freeze for long-time employees and then raise the wages of newly hired employees. This plan is opposed by current employees who feel that their experience and loyalty is being ignored.

“I’ve been here for a long time and worked hard for them,” MAAC employee Susana Montoya said. “It’s not right that I will never be eligible for a wage increase under management’s contract proposal. I feel under valued and under paid.”

Montoya’s fellow MAAC employee Maria Mora agreed.

“It’s unfair to people like me. I’ve been here more than 10 years and new hires will make more money than I do,” Mora said.

Employees are also fighting proposed changes to their on-the-job rights that would negatively impact their working environment.

“They are taking away our rights and I would have no way to grow at my job and no voice at work,” MAAC employee Liliana Camarena.

The MAAC Project provides a wide array of important services to our community: Early childhood education through a large Head Start program; weatherization for low-income households; DUI counseling; and a charter high school.  Without MAAC employees, some of the neediest members of our community would not be served.