Last year at this time, Connecticut’s home care workers were staging a die-in at the Legislative Office Building. But today they are one step closer to getting the wage increase and benefits for which they’ve been asking.
Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday that he reached a three-year deal with the home care workers, who are represented by SEIU District 1199 New England.
The deal, which will need to be ratified by the General Assembly, will increase wages from about $17 per hour to $23 per hour by the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The proposed package of wage and benefit enhancements reflects a commitment to meeting the needs of Connecticut’s most vulnerable populations while promoting the preference for receiving care in one’s own home and community.
“This historic agreement shows our commitment to address the worker shortages experienced by some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable Medicaid participants through the creation of a package of wage and benefit enhancements that will support recruitment and retention in the home care workforce and ongoing education and training to promote quality service delivery,” Lamont said.
The agreement includes several provisions aimed at uplifting workers and enhancing the quality of care they provide:
- Historic Wage Increases: PCAs will see a 26% wage increase over the three-year contract, with wages rising from the current rate of $18.25 per hour to $23 per hour by January 1, 2026.
- Longevity Bonuses: PCAs who work two or more years for the same consumer-employer will be eligible for longevity bonus payments, promoting consistency and quality in care provision.
- Additional Paid Holidays: Juneteenth and Labor Day will be added to the list of paid holidays, alongside six existing holidays.
- Expanded Paid Time Off: PCAs will have the opportunity to accrue an extra ten hours of paid time off per year, with increased maximum accruals and carryover allowances.
- Enhanced Health Care Premium Assistance: The agreement expands access to affordable health care coverage for PCAs, with increased premium assistance and simplified application procedures.
- Support for Career Development: Funding is allocated for worker orientation, training, and tuition reimbursement, promoting professional growth and improving service quality.
“This contract will lift union PCA minimum pay rate up to $23 an hour,” Rob Baril, president of SEIU 1199NE, the New England Health Care Employees Union, said. “That’s an important step up for thousands of Connecticut home care workers, who are majority Black, Latina, and White working-class women. They provide love and care at home for our elderly and disabled, but they keep struggling to cover their family’s essential needs.”
There are nearly 12,000 home care workers, also known as personal care attendants, in Connecticut.
Cynthia Johnson of New Haven is one of them.
“I love giving care to my consumers. And I know that there are many people out there seeking support to live independently at home,” Johnson said. “With this new contract, both me and my consumers can get peace of mind. I will be able to keep the job that I love so much, provide care for my consumers, and grow as a personal care attendant in Connecticut.”
Members of SEIU District 1199 recently ratified the contract, and it now awaits approval from the Connecticut General Assembly. If approved, the agreement will run through June 30, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to support its home care workforce and ensure high-quality care for Medicaid participants.
But it’s not a homerun.
The state finances might be in the black, but they are very close to the spending cap making it a difficult decision for lawmakers.
Republican legislative leaders Sen. Stephen Harding and Rep. Vincent Candelora said they appreciate the work performed by these workers, but question whether the state should move forward at this time.
“Aside from just the budgetary concerns related to this package, we fear this deal sets a new floor for future negotiations of state employee contracts that could drive astronomical spending increases over the long-term,” the two said in a statement.
