“For me, this is about my patients. When we have a stronger voice in how things are done and how we are treated at the agency, we can take better care of our patients.”

Home care workers at White Glove Community Care, Inc. (“White Glove”) overwhelmingly voted to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (“1199SEIU”). The National Labor Relations Board counted the ballots on Wednesday certifying that 70% of caregivers voted yes to join the fastest growing healthcare union in the nation. Over 2,500 White Glove workers will join with the 140,000 home care workers already represented by 1199SEIU.

“For me, this is about my patients. When we have a stronger voice in how things are done and how we are treated at the agency, we can take better care of our patients,” said Rose Wah, a home health aide.

The overwhelmingly female group of workers provide care to seniors and people with disabilities across the five boroughs and Westchester. They decided to organize a union after confronting years of low-wages, unaffordable health insurance, and discrimination while working at White Glove. White Glove, which reported $135 million in revenue in 2022, was forced to pay $3.2 million for wage theft and Medicaid fraud after an investigation by the New York Attorney’s General office in late 2022.

Despite a New York State law guaranteeing that downstate workers performing Medicaid-reimbursed home care are paid a supplemental benefit, the caregivers at White Glove have had ongoing difficulty receiving this benefit. The White Glove “benefit card” issued to the healthcare workers does not always work–meaning some of the dedicated home health aides (“HHAs”) and patient care assistants (“PCAs”) are being regularly underpaid.

“Our union is a way for us to stand up for ourselves. I voted yes for 1199SEIU so we have the strongest voice to demand better pay, better benefits, and improved paid vacation time,” explained Ann Marie Lowers, a patient care assistant.

1199SEIU’s newest members are looking forward to negotiating their first contract to improve their jobs and their lives.