Employees at Maximus call center strike over wages, benefits

The workers help people with Obamacare and Medicare calls.

Christina Jimenez has worked at Maximus for three years as a tier one Medicare representative. She loves her job, but with three small children, she says she's barely able to meet their basic needs on her pay rate of $16.20 per hour.

“We are just demanding that we are seen,” Jimenez said. “We are not a number. We are not a robot. We are actual human beings that are struggling every day to put either food on the table or pay a light bill or water bill.”

A survey conducted by the Communications Workers of America Union found that most Maximus employees and subcontractors were the primary breadwinners for their homes and could not cover their basic necessities on the wages Maximus pays. 

Another worker, Andrea Carter, has been employed at Maximus for five years. She has more responsibilities than Jimenez, but only makes 58 cents more per hour. Additionally, the high deductibles and copays that come with her health benefits package put needed care out of reach.

“My health benefits are very unaffordable when it comes to the deductible,” Carter said. “I have a medical condition, and I haven't been to see my doctor because it's unaffordable.”

Similar strikes were also held at Maximus sites in Louisiana, Arizona, Kentucky, Florida and Virginia. The Hattiesburg center has held at least half a dozen strikes in 2022 and 2023, but Maximus has not met any of the worker's demands.