Community Programs (CT)
Strike notices due this Friday for six group home agencies in Connecticut were withdrawn and reset with a new strike deadline of June 4th at 6:00 AM in hopes of reaching a new agreement.
Union group home workers are encouraged by Governor Ned Lamont’s outreach to discuss improved funding for their long-term care services, setting up an opportunity for new contracts and averting a strike.
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The pending strike covers over 2,000 frontline caregivers and 200 group home worksites across Connecticut. The six group home agencies receiving new strike notifications for June 4th are Oak Hill, Network, Whole Life, Mosaic, Journey Found, and Sunrise.
“We look forward to discussions with Governor Lamont about providing a level playing field for workers and their agencies to reach fair contracts. District 1199’s Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights calls for the State of Connecticut to lift caregivers out of poverty. This discussion is a step forward that was long overdue”, said Rob Baril, president of District 1199 New England, SEIU. “We can’t have loving and dedicated caregivers being asked to pay health insurance premiums of more than $6,000 a month. Investments in our long-term care system will dramatically change the lives of the workers and people receiving care in our long-term care facilities.”
The potential for a new agreement with Connecticut’s group home workers follows recent historical agreements with union nursing home caregivers along the parameters of the Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights calling for: livable wages and benefits, affordable health insurance, respect and dignity on the job, a path to retirement and protections against short staffing.
“Workers are very proud to make a positive difference in so many lives,” said Stephanie Deceus, vice president for the Group Homes division of District 1199NE. “But they need to be treated like human beings too. They need health care for their families. Our new contracts will bring economic justice to all the Black, Brown and White working-class caregivers that make up this forgotten workforce.”
The Union represents group home workers with the following job titles: direct support staff, direct support person, direct support professional, assistant program coordinator, residential day program worker, assistant teacher, and licensed practical nurse. All group home union contracts have expired.
Thousands of long-term care workers have now pending strike notices in hopes of final state funding approvals and worker ratification of new union contracts. More than 2,000 group home workers have delayed their strike to Friday, June 4th. Nursing home strike notices are still pending for Friday, May 28th at 6:00 AM and Monday, June 7th at 6:00 AM.
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Active Group Home Strike Notices for Friday, June 4th at 6:00 AM
- Oak Hill
- Network
- Whole Life
- Mosaic
- Journey Found
- Sunrise
Active Nursing Home Strike Notices for Friday, May 28th at 6:00 AM
- St. Camillus
- Governor’s House
- West Hartford Health and Rehab
- Advanced Center for Nursing
- Cassena of Stamford
- Cassena of Norwalk
- RegalCare Salmon Brook (Glastonbury)
- RegalCare Torrington
- RegalCare Waterbury
- RegalCare New Haven
- RegalCare West Haven
- RegalCare Greenwich
- RegalCare Southport
Active Nursing Home Strike Notices for Monday, June 7th at 6:00 AM
- Autumn Lake New Britain
- Autumn Lake Cromwell
- Autumn Lake Bucks Hill (Waterbury)
- Autumn Lake Norwalk
Contact: Pedro Zayas, pzayas@seiu1199ne.org, 860-830-2478
District 1199, SEIU, New England Health Care Employees Union
