SEIU 775

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare 775NW was formed in 2003 when home care and nursing home workers from several different SEIU locals united together to form a union focused specifically on long-term care workers and issues. SEIU Healthcare 775NW now represents almost 34,000 home care and nursing home workers in Washington state and Montana. SEIU Healthcare is the largest grassroots advocacy organization both nationally and here in the Northwest.

Its stated mission is to "unite the strength of all long-term care workers, to improve the lives of working families and lead the way to a more just and humane world." The majority of union members are independent providers of non-medical, in-home care for disabled and elderly persons receiving Medicaid. The union also represents home care worker employees of several Washington home care agencies with State contracts to provide home care to qualified Medicaid recipients.

The unioin is named after Washington State Initiative 775, the Quality Home Care Initiative, which voters overwhelmingly approved in 2001 and which gave 23,000 Individual Provider home care workers the right to form a union in the largest union election ever held in Washington state. [ [http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=healthinit07m&date=20011106 Local News | Bargaining rights for state's home-care staffers passing | Seattle Times Newspaper ] ] The "Quality Home Care Initiative" gave long-term care providers in Washington the right to unionize and negotiate over working conditions and pay.

SEIU 775's first contract with the state, ratified and approved in 2003, increased caregiver salaries, gave them access to workers' compensation protection, and provided access to health insurance to caregivers working at least half time. [ [http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=healthcare15m&date=20031115 Local News | Home-care workers ratify new contract with state | Seattle Times Newspaper ] ]

Since then, thousands of home care workers at private agencies like ResCare/Armstrong, Addus Healthcare, Chesterfield Healthcare, Catholic Community Services of Western Washignton, Korean Women’s Association, Amicable, Unique, AAA Residential Services and Home Care Services of Montana have united with SEIU Healthcare 775NW and gained new raises and improved benefits.

Since 2006, more than 1800 workers at 22 nursing homes across Washington state have joined with SEIU Healthcare 775NW, quadrupling the number of nursing home workers in the union, and winning raises of 6-14% each year. Nursing home workers are advocating for improving the quality of care through public policy and a voice in care delivery within union facilities.

Wages have improved by 40% throughout Washington home care over the last five years, as SEIU Healthcare 775NW has won more than $400 million in improved wages and benefits for Washington home care workers. This includes affordable health care including dental, prescription drug and vision coverage, paid vacations, and wage scales with guaranteed increases based on experience.

The union's grassroots advocacy efforts and union contracts have also increased the number of hours of care for both clients and hours of work for caregivers. In Montana, the union is opening up options for more seniors and people with disabilities to live in their own homes with quality long term care, and helped to pass legislation "Healthcare for Healthcare Workers". SEIU Healthcare 775NW is now engaged in state and national efforts on workforce development, to recognize home and community-based care as an emerging healthcare profession.

In 2007, the union changed its name from SEIU 775 to SEIU Healthcare 775NW, as part of a reorganization of its parent union, the Service Employees International Union.

References

External links

* [http://www.seiu775.org SEIU Healthcare 775 NW website]
* [http://www.seiuhealthcare.org SEIU Healthcare website]