Contact: AprilE@1199.org | Cell: (716)449-1620
1199SEIU Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

86% voted to secure union rights in their workplace in an effort to become first contracted homecare workers in area

Buffalo, NY – Yesterday, 40 homecare workers from Schofield Home Health Care voted to join 1199SEIU, making it one of the first Licensed Home Health Care agencies in Buffalo to unionize in Western New York. Homecare Workers will be represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare union in the country.

The Homecare Workers at Schofield are among a growing number of workers in Western New York fighting to join a union. The newly organized homecare workers join a growing trend of people joining unions to have a voice on the job, improvements in wages, and benefits such as training and upgrading, health insurance, and pension benefits.

“As a Home Health Care worker, we all deserve to be paid more and be respected by our employers,” said Ashley Borden, Home Health Aide. “We are an essential part of the healthcare system and our clients’ lives. I know my clients better than their own families sometimes! We are the first and last person that they see most of their days. By organizing our union, we can ensure that things are fair for all of us who do this work,” said Borden.

“I’m so ecstatic that we won our union and all our efforts have led to this victory,” said Diana Goudelock, Home Health Aide. “I am very excited about having a voice on the job and making improvements for our future chapter at work.”

The new union members will begin to identify priorities needed in their first contract with the employer. A date to begin contract negotiations is pending.

On Background: Home health care workers – typically referred to as Home Health Aides (HHA) or Personal Care Attendants (PCA) – provide clients care and home keeping services that allow people to remain in their homes. Home care workers work in low wage often non-benefited positions. Some workers struggle with irregular hours and travel between multiple work sites, often by bus or ride share service.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all. https://www.1199seiu.org