HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC) – Nursing home workers and leadership from SEIU 1199 New England provided an update on the strike vote pending at 20 nursing home facilities during a press conference at the Legislative Office Building.
Wednesday’s press conference comes a week after Governor Ned Lamont wrote a letter to union officials asking for more time. 1199 President Rob Baril notes that a strike is a “last resort”, but they must see progress moving forward in talks.
“We would have been on strike if we had not received some word from the Governor that we were going to work to provide funding for nursing home workers,” said Baril. “We still have considerable progress we need to make – we are not home yet.”
The latest budget proposal, released in February, did not provide any additional funding for nursing home workers. Furthermore, wages have been stagnant with just a two percent increase since 2015.
In addition to no wage increase, workers are also faced with short staffing ratios. Baril stated this means they are working with fewer resources while taking care of residents requiring a higher level of care.
As a result, officials note many facilities are struggling to retain and recruit caregivers.
Moving forward, the union is asking for a four-percent increase in wages over the next two years.
“It’s about 40 million dollars and half of that is matched by the Federal Government, so if you put in a dollar you get back 50 cents from the Federal Government,” said Baril.
Additionally, five more nursing home facilities could be at the negotiation table, which would add about 650 additional workers. Baril did not disclose the names of those homes, but noted they have not yet taken a strike vote.
More information on the possibility of additional nursing home facilities joining the pending strike vote or potential deadlines will be available after the negotiation committee reconvenes next week on May 8th.
Baril says that meeting will set up several key moves and deadlines moving forward.
“At that point in time we have to make some real decisions about whether we are setting deadlines and whether we are sending additional strike notices so that we can get the changes that we need in terms of funding and contracts to be able to move people ahead.”
Following the press conference, several of the workers in attendance walked over to a finance committee occurring simultaneously to show their concerns and desire for change regarding the upcoming budget vote later this summer.
