BOSTON—The union representing 2,700 social workers and staff at the state's child welfare agency has overwhelmingly cast a no confidence vote in Commissioner Anthony McClain just days before he goes before state leaders to defend his tenure.
The 10-1 vote last week was counted Sunday.
Union president Zevorah Ortega-Bagni says workers with the Department of Children and Families want McClain replaced because they do not feel he's attuned to the needs of the 40,000 children the agency helps or to the challenges agency employees face.
McClain tells The Boston Globe that he sees the vote as a message that he needs to better communicate with staff, and said the agency is doing better in such areas as foster care, adoption, and mental health services for children.
------
Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe
