1199 workers win funding, avert strike

8,000 nursing home workers and group home workers, members of SEIU 1199 NE began preparing to strike if they had to five months ago. It was a daunting situation, with wages so low that most of the workers were forced to hold two or three jobs, with some unable to afford rentals living in their cars. Most were one check away from losing everything. These caregivers carry out heroic work and lost members to COVID during the pandemic.

Without adequate Medicare funding allocatted from the state of Connecticut, there was no ability to bargain with nursing home owners for an increase in wages and benefits. The workers shared their stories with community allies and members of the state legislature and won their support. But the fund were not forthcoming.

Finally, on May 1^st, they delivered a strike notice to the Governor. Preparations were made for the workers to report to the Capitol grounds for a massive picket line on May 27. On Friday befoe the Memorial Day weekend, negotiations reopened and enough funds were allocated for the workers to win wage increases from $22 to $26 by 2028. The committee voted to take the offer from the Governor and withdraw the strike notice.

Gov. Lamont agreed to Medicaid reimbursement increases of $164 million over three years for nursing home workers, with the goal of $30 an hour. Group home workers got $149 million in increases over two years that should increase pay from the current $18 an hour to above $20 an hour.

Union members voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the new funding package and call off the strike said president Rob Baril. “The agreement provides for substantial funding increases in both group homes and nursing homes, and makes important and meaningful progress toward livable wages in both sectors.”

Now, in phase two the caregivers, who work at 51 nursing homes and 173 group homes, will be bargaining with dozens of employers to get contracts that deliver on their wage increases to meet the rising cost of living.

As well, they are facing an attack from threatened federal cuts to Medicaid which covers the work of most of the members, and could cause job losses and even closures of agencies and nursing homes.