Union Group Home Workers Win Wage and Benefit Increases

On the eve of a strike by over 2,100 group home caregivers demanding a Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights., a two-year state funding package of $184-million was allocated toward livable wages and benefits, affordable health insurance and a path to retirement.

“This is a great victory for racial and economic justice for the majority of Black and Latina women who make up this workforce of caregivers. All strike notices have been immediately withdrawn,” declared Rob Baril, president of District 1199 New England, SEIU.

The agreement culminated weeks of organizing, rallies and actions at the State Capitol directed at Governor Lamont by the workers and their allies.

“It’s time for our long-term care system to do away with poverty wages and to protect quality services for the elderly and people with disabilities,” said the union. The workers have not had a pay raise in 14 years.

“We believe this additional funding will resolve the open contracts. We have made substantial progress toward our goals for a $20 minimum wage, with major progress on retirement and other benefits,” said Baril.

"This last year with COVID has been horrible with a lot of these group homes,” said Kimberly Ackerman, an SEIU District 1199 worker.

The COVID-19 pandemic was horrific for healthcare workers. “We went through so much last year with COVID, being short-staffed, lack of PPE, being stressed out every day, hoping and praying that you won’t get sick.”

One retiree greeted the victory saying, “The folks who live in these homes will benefit from the higher pay staff get by less turnover, more stability, and better care as a result.”

The new funding agreement for group home workers at Oak Hill, Whole Life, Sunrise, Network, Mosaic and Journey Found marks the second major settlement for long-term care workers.

Last month over 4,000 union nursing home workers won new contracts with improved wages and benefits, following rallies, protests and preparations to strike.

The health care workers have also joined with their allies in the Recovery for All Coalition demanding an equity budget for the long term that funds services and increases taxes on the wealthiest who pay less than everyone else.

HUSKY for Immigrants Passes the General Assembly

The lack of healthcare for immigrants in the midst of the pandemic gave rise to a proposal that HUSKY health care for low income childred and families be extended to cover undocumented immigrants. The immigrant community was joined by allies in the Recovery for All Coalition.

A scaled down version of the proposal passed the House and Senate in the last days of the legislative session and awaits Gov. Lamont's signature. HB 6687 as passed will expand HUSKY healthcare to immigrant children up to age 8 and postnatal care for undocumented pregnant women.

The HUSKY for Immigrants Coaliiton held daily noise actions outside the Capitol for the last two weeks of the session. Work will continue to win further expansion of HUSKY to all undocumented individuals. The Coalition said that, “while expanding access to undocumented youth children and pregnant women is a cricual first step, our coalition believes the state of Connecticut must create a long term plan to expand HUSKY access to our whole immigrant community. The health of children cannot exist without the health of their parents and caretakers. We are committed to continue this fight and ensure that we get healthcare access for our entire community.”