On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 workers at Allied Health Services home care agency in New York City overwhelmingly voted YES by 143 to 22 to join us in the fight for higher wages, fairness and respect on the job. Workers voted to come together to negotiate better benefits, sick pay and vacation time.

We are proud to welcome the home health aides at Allied Health Services as sisters and brothers in the 1199SEIU family. By providing compassionate care to people in the Bronx and Manhattan, the workers at Allied Health Services embody the spirit of the 1199 local.

1199SEIU is the largest healthcare workers’ union in the US with more than 400,000 members and one of the fastest growing unions in the country.

Joan March has worked at Allied Health for five years and she came to witness the vote count at the National Labor Relations Board in lower Manhattan because she wanted to see the moment when she and her colleagues won the vote to unite.

“Allied Health does not co-operate with us or take an interest in our work. If there is a problem on the job, they think it is our fault,” said March. By uniting with 1199SEIU, she is looking forward to having access to the grievance procedure to resolve any issues.

She also wants to negotiate for paid sick leave and vacation time. “Right now, I never call in sick or take a vacation as I know I won’t get paid,” she added.