Unity Boosts Tenant Power against Ocean Management

When mega landlord Ocean Management tacked 16 eviction notices on the doors of 16 tenant union members at 311 Blake Street, the courageous tenants decided to organize even harder. They are taking their case to court, to the City of New Haven Fair Rent Commission. and to the streets.

Several hundred turned out in solidarity for a spirited tenant power rally at New Haven City Hall and then marched to Ocean Management to state their demands: rescind the evictions, commit to never take such action again, and negotiate with the tenants union.

Before the march even started, a new tenant union formed at another Ocean Management property on Quinnipiac Avenue.

The tenants at 311 Blake Street told their stories. They want security, they want repairs taken care of, and they want the landlord to bargain collectively with them, just like workers bargain collectively with their boss through their union on the job.

Sarah Giovanniello got rousing cheers and applause when she said “Even when your landlord tries to threaten you, to make your children sick, or make you feel powerless, you have the power when you organize with your neighbors.”

The struggle of tenants at 311 Blake Street has become a test case. Part of the Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU), which is an affiliate of SEIU Connecticut State Council, their goal is to organize and “transform housing in Connecticut.”

“It's a new day,” said Kooper Caraway, SEIU Connecticut State Council executive director, leading a chant, “Power to the People.” and vowing that labor and tenant unions will take on the crisis of “rents that are way too high and wages that are way too low” in a united movement.

The New Haven Board of Alders passed a law giving tenants the legal right to organize a union if there are ten units owned by the same landlord, and participate with Fair Rent Commission investigations of complaints.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, State Senators. Martin Looney, and Gary Winfield, and Board of Alders president Tyisha Walker-Myers all pledged support to the vibrant, multi-racial youthful crowd.

“Housing is a human right. We have your back,” said Walker-Myers. Many signs and chants reflected that vision of housing as a right and not a commodity.

Contact CTTU at ‪(860) 756-0257‬ or CTtenantsunion@gmail.com