A Connecticut health care workers’ union reached labor agreements last week with six companies owning 25 of the 61 nursing homes whose workers’ contracts expired earlier this year.
The New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, SEIU, which is the largest health care workers union in the state, announced Wednesday that the agreement covers about 2,600 nurses, nursing assistants and support staff caring for nursing home residents across the state.
“As of last week, we have reached agreements with six companies which collectively operate 25 homes, despite a troubled economy and uncertainty about the future,” said Carmen Boudier, the union’s president in a prepared statement. “These agreements mean stability for 1199 members, and consistency and continuity of quality care for thousands of nursing home residents, ensuring peace of mind for their families. I hope other long-term care operators will come to the table in the same spirit so we can all move forward.”
The agreements include across-the-board wage increases, the statement said. They also maintain or improve health care and pension benefits, it said. Most of the agreements are for four years, expiring on March 15, 2015.
The union’s communication director Deborah Chernoff noted that there are still 36 contracts to reached but said, “we’re making some progress.”
The facilities where agreements have been reached include:
Aurora Senior Living of East Hartford
Aurora Senior Living of Bucks Hill (Waterbury)
Birmingham Health Center (Derby)
Hilltop Health Center (Ansonia)
Laurel Hill Healthcare (Winsted)
Park Place Health Center (Hartford)
Torrington Health & Rehabilitation Center
Paradigm Healthcare Center of New Haven
Paradigm Healthcare Center of Norwalk
Paradigm Healthcare Center of Prospect
Paradigm Healthcare Center of Torrington
Paradigm Healthcare Center of Waterbury
Paradigm Healthcare Center of West Haven
Advanced Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of New Haven (formerly Jewish Home for the Aged) Note: Pending approval of agreement by the bankruptcy court
Orange Healthcare Center
Bidwell Care Center (Manchester)
Chelsea Place (Hartford)
Chestnut Point (East Windsor)
Farmington Care Center
Silver Springs Care Center (Meriden)
Westside Care Center (Manchester)
Trinity Hill (Hartford)
Wintonbury Care Center (Bloomfield)
Kettlebrook Care Center (East Windsor)
West Hartford Health & Rehabilitation Center
