Tuesday, December 8th, 2021, the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, SEIU, reached an Agreement for a new contract for group home and day program workers at Sunrise Northeast, Inc.

This Agreement, once ratified by the membership, will end the members’ two month strike.

Sunrise operates 28 group home and day programs serving over 160 individuals in multiple locations across the state with 149 District 1199 New England union workers in Brooklyn, Columbia, Danielson, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Hartford, Hebron, Lebanon, Manchester, Mansfield, New London, New Milford, Old Lyme, Pomfret, Vernon, Waterford and Enfield.

Sunrise Northeast, Inc. joins a growing number of group home agencies represented by District 1199 that has reached agreements with workers in the past few months.  The Tentative Agreement establishes industry leading standards for wage increases, affordable healthcare and retirement. The tentative agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2021 and will expire in March of 2023.

“Last night we reached a tentative agreement with Sunrise. With this contract we have achieved historic wage increases, real affordable healthcare and a retirement with dignity. My coworkers and I look forward to getting back to our clients whom we love and miss.” – Charmayne Brown,  14 years with Sunrise.

“We see this agreement as an enormous step forward in the fight for economic and racial justice.” – Stephanie Deceus, Vice President, District 1199

No further comments will be provided about the details of the tentative agreement until after ratification by the membership.

Related Media Coverage

Union Says Agreement Reached In Sunrise Strike – CT News Junkie – 12.8.21

Sunrise Northeast workers on strike set to be permanently replaced – WTNH – 12.2.21

Sunrise Strike Escalates With Notification of Replacement Workers – CT News Junkie -12.2.21

Union: Group homes owner threatens striking workers’ jobs – Fox 61 CT – 12.2.21

Father of Sunrise Group Home Resident Weighs in on Strike – NBC CT – 11.14.21

Sunrise Caregiver Strike Hits One Month Mark – NBC CT – 11.11.21

Sunrise Strike Hits One Month Mark – CT News Junkie – 11.11.21

Sunrise union workers end first month of strike over wages, health care – WTNH – 11.11.21

Group Home workers with Sunrise have been on strike for a month – The Day – 11.10.21

Sunrise Strike Continues – CT News Junkie – 11.10.21

Essential Workers Demand a New Expectation – STN Channel 2 – 10.24.21

As Sunrise Group Home caregivers strike continues into Day 9, families of residents challenged to care for loved ones – WTNH – 10.20.21

‘I just am at wit’s end’: Mother of group home resident grapples with impact of strike – The Day – 10.18.21

Sunrise caregivers take to the picket line for third day ahead of union, management negotiations – WTNH – 10.14.21

Group home workers strike in New London and across Connecticut – Yahoo! Finance – 10.12.21

Frontline caregivers at Sunrise Group Home and Day Programs strike over wages, benefits – WTNH – 10.12.21

Caregivers stage strike, demand better pay, benefits from Sunrise group homes – WSFB Channel 3 – 10.12.21

Wages, health insurance the center of union health care worker strike – Fox 61 – 10.12.21

Group Home Strike Looming – CT News Junkie – 10.12.21

Workers to launch strike against major group home operator – The Day -10.12.21

Caregivers go on strike Tuesday over wages, benefits at Sunrise, Inc. programs for the disabled – Hartford Courant – 10.12.21

Workers to launch strike against major group home operator – CT Mirror – 10.12.21

‘If we don’t value ourselves…there is no other voice.’ Sunrise group home workers strike – The Bulletin – 10.12.21

CT workers to launch strike against major group home operator – CT Insider -10.12.21

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•