Group home workers end strike but continue struggle against poverty

While their struggle to end poverty continues, group home and day program members of SEIU 1199NE agreed to new contracts at six agencies, ending a weeks long strike.

The new contracts cover the next two years, starting on July 1, 2023, with an option to reopen negotiations after the first year. Direct care providers will receive raises of $1.25 an hour or more in the first year.

“We have achieved agreements that we are proud of with the six agencies. In some cases, folks are getting long overdue seniority raises up to 14% at some agencies,” said union President Rob Baril.

“We know that the struggle to end poverty for long-term caregivers must continue. But the real victory is that our leaders and workers clearly understand that we are leading a movement that will eventually lift all long-term care and essential workers out of poverty.”

Baril pointed out that “with more than a decade of austerity budgets, Medicaid services for individuals with disabilities were underfunded by hundreds of millions of dollars since 2008.”

The contract demands were connected to the state budget fight. Through the Recovery for All coalition, the workers received solidarity support from the 70 member organizations including CT AFL-CIO unions, community and faith based organizations.

A rally of 2,000 at the State Capitol in May featured teachers, para educators and students in public education, health care workers, racial justice groups, immigrant organizations, all pledging to support each others budget needs and calling for emergency action to circumvent the constitutional spending cap, and to tax the rich.

To emphasize the urgency of their situation, 57 workers participated in a civil disobedience action blocking the street outside the state capitol. Tents were set up on the capitol lawn to dramatize the reality that some caregivers are forced to sleep in their cars, unable to afford rent on their meager wages.

These actions pushed the budget negotiations. The adopted state budget included $150 million in additional Medicaid funds for group home and day program providers. The funds were added on to the budget bill during SEIU 1199NE’s strike against poverty at the State Capitol.

The biennial budget also included $50 million in bonding to repair and improve facilities at group home and day program agencies.

Over 1,700 group home and day program caregivers began striking on Wednesday, May 24, at six agencies that provide services for 1,500 individuals with disabilities: Oak Hill, Mosaic, Whole Life, Network, Caring Community, and Alternative Services, Inc.

“We are thankful for the state leaders that fought with us for the funding necessary to achieve economic justice in this vital healthcare sector,” said Baril.

“Clients and workers deserve so much more. Government has the responsibility to do so much more. This forces our movement for living wages to come back stronger to raise standards for publicly funded workers. Our fight to end poverty for long-term care providers continues,” he emphasized.

The long-term caregivers will continue to fight for a pathway to $25/hr minimum wage, affordable healthcare, and funding for retirement after decades of service.