Home care providers across Connecticut have united as Union Members – in contract negotiations, at the Capitol, and in the streets using collective action – to win a new Tentative Agreement for 11,500 caregivers that will raise wages for all and provide improved benefits! Once our agreement is approved by Union Members and Lawmakers, PCAS will see a 26% increase to the minimum pay rate by 2026!
Good news: Our new Union contract has been overwhelmingly approved by Union members, and now goes to lawmakers for approval: Read more from the CT Mirror here.
More good news: As Union Members, we have fought for years for the right to be paid On Time, Every Time. Finally, thanks to our unity, all PCAs will be moving to the new payroll company, GT Independence, effective for shifts worked beginning 3/24/24.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Paid Time Off we won as Union Members that has been accruing since December 2022 will finally be available on transition to GTI!
- If you and your Consumer have not yet enrolled with GTI, you must do so before the transition to avoid interruptions in pay
- There will be town hall meetings you can attend either in-person OR on Zoom TOMORROW, Thursday March 7th, to learn more. GTI staff will be facilitating the meetings, and your area Union Delegates will also be there to answer questions about our historic new raises and benefits going into effect this year! Register here:
Upcoming Town Hall Invitation
*After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information for how to join
WHAT WE HAVE NOW | WHAT’S IN THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT | |
WAGE INCREASES & BONUSES | Minimum PCA Rate is $18.25/hour; caregivers earning higher than the minimum rate received 4-8% in increases in 2022 A settlement on the delay of PTO implementation resulted in a $250 PTO bonus paid in June 2023 | Minimum PCA Rate will increase to $20.50 by 7/1/24 and onward to $23/hour by January 2026; caregivers earning higher than the minimum rate will receive 7.5% by January 2026, and Per Diems will receive 12% by January 2026 First-Ever Longevity Bonuses will be Paid out in 2026: $800 per Consumer for those averaging >20 hours/week and $400 per Consumer for those averaging < 20 hours/week |
HEALTH INSURANCE | 6% Annual Health Insurance Stipend for those without Husky or health insurance through another job, parent or spouse | Increase to 7% Annual Health Insurance Stipend for those without Husky or health insurance through another job, parent or spouse |
PAID TIME OFF | Paid Time Off Accruing since Dec 2022 up to a maximum of 40 hours per year; can roll over up to 80 hours per year and will be available for use when the new payroll company, GT Independence, takes over | Increased Paid Time Off Accrual Rate up to a maximum of 50 hours per year; can roll over up to 100 hours per year and will be available for use when GT Independence takes over (estimated April 2024) |
TRAINING AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT | Funding for Paid Voluntary Trainings and Tuition Reimbursement for health care related courses | Funding for Paid Voluntary Trainings and Tuition Reimbursement for health care related courses |
HOLIDAY PAY | Time and a Half Holiday Pay for Hours Worked on 6 Holidays: New Years Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Thanksgiving & Christmas | Time and a Half Holiday Pay for Hours Worked on 8 Holidays: New Years Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, & Christmas |
Other Resources & Links:
Paid Family & Medical Leave: The new Paid Family & Medical leave law went into effect 1/1/22 and is designed for CT workers who need time off due to a serious health condition or to care for a loved one with a serious health condition (when 3+ consecutive days off are needed). Apply here: https://bit.ly/3v0QjYr
COVID-19 Essential Worker Relief Fund: If you had COVID between March 10th, 2020 and December 31st 2022, you are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Essential Worker Relief fund to cover missed work, out of pocket medical costs, or burial costs. Link here: https://bit.ly/3Phi4DJ
Health Insurance Stipend: If you do not have access to HUSKY or health insurance through another job, spouse, or parent, you are eligible to apply for a health insurance stipend equal to 7% of your annual income. The next application is expected to open in September 2024.
Workers Compensation Insurance: For injuries on the job that occur prior to 01/01/2024, contact Atlantic Charter Insurance at 617-488-6546 (Fax 617-207-4344). For injuries on the job occurring on or after 01/01/2024 contact GT Independence at 877-659-4500.
If you haven’t been paid accurately or on time: File a Notice of Nonpayment at https://bit.ly/39p592c
If your Consumer needs to contact their Care Manager Regarding budgetary problems or to Access Overtime: Contact your care manager for DSS consumers at https://bit.ly/3N9jtdy and for DDS consumers at https://bit.ly/3PmE0NO. If your Consumer needs to request a fair Hearing to appeal changes to their budget, go to https://bit.ly/3MeozVX.
How to Join the Union: Help home care workers have a stronger voice by standing with us and joining the Union today at: https://bit.ly/3NeHOP6 (Disponible en español aquí: https://bit.ly/3ByuYZ5)
Recent Articles
- Hay Esperanza para PCAs cuando GT Independence Tome Cargo de Sistema de Salarios
- Home Care PCAs Optimistic as GT Independence Takes Over Payroll System
- Press Release: Statement on our recent PCA agreement with Gov. Lamont
- Personal Care Attendants Engage in Civil Disobedience at the LOB to Denounce State’s Broken Promises on Health Insurance Stipend for Home Care Providers
- Long-Term Care Workers Hold Press Conference Demanding “$25 for 2025”
- Home Care Personal Care Attendants Honor MLK in Capitol Candlelight Vigil
Related Media Coverage
- 2/17/22: 20 Arrested During Protest Outside State Capitol: Hartford Police – NBC Connecticut
- 2/15/22: Susan Campbell (opinion): CT’s cruelty toward frontline workers – Stamford Advocate
- 2/6/22: States take on COVID sick leave with federal help nowhere in sight – Politico
- 2/3/22: Home Care Workers Relied On State Subsidies, According to Survey – CT News Junkie
- 2/2/22: Personal care assistants call for paid sick time, health insurance – New London Day
- 1/20/22: Omicron Wave Hits Home Care Workers’ Health And Paychecks – CT News Junkie
- 1/13/22: Lamont, labor headed for a showdown over ‘hero pay’ – CT Mirror
- 12/10/21: Personal Care Assistants Take Labor Dispute To Governor’s Home – CT News Junkie
- 11/27/21: OP-ED | Grateful For Caring – CT News Junkie
- 10/11/21: Help For Heroes – The Progressive