Group home workers withdrew notices for a strike due to begin Friday morning after agreeing on a $184-million state funding package for the next two years.

Over 2,100 caregivers were due for a strike Friday at 6:00 AM in demand of livable wages and benefits, affordable health insurance and a path to retirement as enumerated in the Union’s Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights.   

“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 Rob Baril, president of District 1199 New England, SEIU. “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 All strike notices have been immediately withdrawn.”

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 in Connecticut in the past month. Recently, over 4,000 union nursing home workers won new contracts with improved wages and benefits.

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Pedro Zayas, pzayas@seiu1199ne.org, 860-830-2478
District 1199, SEIU, New England Health Care Employees Union