Over the past several months, 1199SEIU members across New York have been mobilizing to ensure that the bonuses for healthcare workers approved in the state budget include essential support staff such as housekeeping and dietary workers who were originally left out. 

This summer, over 34,000 members took action by signing a petition calling on New York State to do the right thing. This was a powerful showing of the unity and power of 1199 members. 

Gov. Hochul and the NY Department of Health have just unveiled a bonus program which significantly expands the number of workers eligible to receive bonuses, with a first payment of up to $1500 for working on the frontlines. Bonuses will be distributed through your employers in the coming months, and the union will keep you updated on the progress. 

As 1199 members, we should be very proud of what we’ve accomplished in fighting to expand the bonus to include tens of thousands of additional workers. But we also need to recognize that there is still so much more work to be done to ensure that all healthcare workers receive the respect, recognition, and pay that we truly deserve. Let’s continue to organize and build our power as a union! 

Right side of page: For more information about the bonus program, and to see the expanded list of job titles which are now eligible for the bonus, you can visit: New York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus (HWB)  Program [link to: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/providers/hwb_program/]. 
Review the website carefully, and if you have any questions, please reach out to your organizer. 
You can also email questions to bonusquestions@1199.org.