HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC) – The strike is not settled and the deadline remains in effect, but strides have been made in the strike notices issued by more than 3,000 workers at 25 nursing home facilities in Connecticut.
The latest news comes after Governor Ned Lamont endorsed a new funding proposal of Medicaid increases for nursing home rates. Nursing home workers are cheering the new proposal, that includes a two-percent rate increase in July of this year.
Another one-percent increase will take place in October, 2020 and again in January, 2021 for all Connecticut nursing homes. The latest news is a victory for nursing home workers who are demanding wage raises and adequate staffing for quality care.
Rob Baril is the President of SEIU 1199 (the New England Health Care Employees Union) and he said they are grateful for Governor Lamont’s endorsement, and now to avert a strike, the proposal must be reflected in the state budget. He also said contract settlements must be signed with nursing home bosses as well.
The latest strike notice, which by law must be given a minimum 10-days before going on strike for health care employers, has an effective deadline of June 3rd.
With expired contracts for the past two years, caregivers did not receive a salary increase. They did, however, receive a two-percent raise in 2018, which amounted to roughly 30 cents for most workers.
They were not scheduled to receive raises in 2019 or 2020 if the Medicaid rate for nursing homes was flattened in the state budget.