Credit Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont says his administration has received copies of strike postponement notices at 26 nursing homes from District 1199 SEIU and New England Health Care Employees Union.
The unions had planned to lead thousands workers on a strike Friday morning over staffing shortages and low-pay. The Democratic governor detailed the agreement Thursday afternoon.
“Which is a four-year deal that puts front and center our nurses who have been there at the nursing homes taking care of our seniors through thick and thin over the last of 14 months,” Lamont said. “They’ll be getting a significant raise over the next four years. We originally had a two-year deal, now it’s a four-year agreement.”
Published May 13. 2021 8:04PM | Updated May 13. 2021 9:04PM
By SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press
Unionized nursing home workers on Thursday agreed to postpone planned strikes on Friday at 26 facilities after Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont s administration reached a “basic agreement” with union leaders and nursing homes operators that includes $267 million in state funds to help pay for historic wage increases.
District 1199 New England, SEIU, also announced it has already reached a tentative four-year contract with iCare Health Network, owner of 11 of the homes, that will set a $20 hourly minimum wage for certified nursing assistants and a $30 hourly minimum wage for licensed practiced nurses.
Meanwhile, the union said it has issued new strike notices for the 26 facilities, with roughly 2,800 residents and 2,800 unionized workers, for June 7 to give more time for negotiations on final agreements with iCare, Genesis Healthcare and Autumn Lake Healthcare.
May 14, 2021
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The Greater Waterbury Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrated 20 years of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. The sorority was founded at Howard University in 1913 and now has more than 900 chapters around the globe. The sorority provides programs and services in Educational Development, Economic Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.
Recently, the chapter held a drive to collect feminine hygiene called Trunks Up. Through that effort the chapter donated over 500 personal items to the NAFI CT Touchstone Program in Litchfield. Supplies included: packs of pads, tampons, natural hair shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, spa treatments, deodorant, lip balm, wipes, shaving cream and more. The chapter would like to thank the public who contributed to this drive.
CT nursing home workers postpone planned strikes
By Susan Haigh
Unionized nursing home workers agreed to postpone strikes planned for Friday at 26 facilities across Connecticut after Gov. Ned Lamont s administration reached an agreement with union leaders and nursing homes operators that includes $267 million in state funds to help pay for historic wage increases.
The workers including nurses, nurses aides, housekeeping staff and laundry workers have threatened to walk out over what they call poverty-level wages and dangerously low staffing levels.
Lamont announced during a COVID-19 briefing with reporters Thursday afternoon that his administration had reached a “basic agreement” with the nursing home operators and the union. While the state is not a party to the talks, it plays a crucial role because it provides the bulk of nursing home revenues through Medicaid payments.