Members of SEIU 6434, United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union have negotiated new collective bargaining agreements that will make improvements for hundreds of caregivers and the residents in their care at several California nursing homes. In all, seven new contracts covering over 700 workers provide on average wage increases of $1.50/hr over three years, employer contributions to an education and training fund, increased contributions to employee healthcare, and in two homes, contributions to employee family healthcare. Better pay and benefits have shown to result in lower staff turnover, which ensures a more experienced, stable group of caregivers for residents.
The changes being made to improve resident life at nursing homes are possible largely in part from collaborative efforts between the union, senior advocates, religious and community leaders, and nursing home operators to pass the Nursing Home Quality Care Act (AB 1629) which provides additional funding for nursing home facilities. SEIU Local 6434, the United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union, represents over 160,000 long-term care workers (nursing home and homecare workers) in 10 California counties.