1199SEIU personal care attendants from Massachusetts recently deployed to two other states in New England to help organize homecare workers.PCA_CT_VT_NEW.jpg

Massachusetts PCAs Brandi Turner, Kilra Hylton, Ruthella Livingston, Minvera Lebron, Johanna Montalvo, Jonathan Nieves-Vidot, Emily Rodrigues, Aldonsa Santana and Victoria Entzminger all travelled to Connecticut to participate in an organizing campaign to help Connecticut homecare workers join SEIU.



Thanks in part to the group’s hours of door knocking and lobbying, Connecticut homecare workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing.



“It was a beautiful experience. I like meeting new people. People were opening their doors for us,” said Brandi Turner.

Also, personal care attendants ventured to Vermont to knock on doors and reach out to homecare workers about unionizing. Lisa Ivey, Brandi Turner, Carlita Martinez, Ronnie Simmons, and Lydia Lebron all went to Vermont and spoke to hundreds of homecare workers about their experiences as PCAs.

“My experience in Vermont was extraordinary. The Vermonters were nice and welcoming. The need for a union was deeply expressed by the majority,” said Lisa Ivey. “Many of the [homecare workers] explained that they’re afraid of losing the little hours that have as well as their consumers being understaffed.”

Ronnie Simmons echoed Lisa’s feelings.



“It was a humbling experience. I met unbelievable individuals who unconditionally put others before themselves,” he said.