As new report highlights how widespread poverty in the homecare industry is undermining care, workers gather in Worcester to launch 2015 campaigns
Worcester, MA – Community allies and local legislators will join 1199SEIU healthcare workers at a forum in Worcester, Mass. on Tuesday, March 24th to discuss key legislative priorities, upcoming labor negotiations, and the emerging Fight for $15 movement.
Healthcare workers will speak out about the prevalence of poverty wages in area hospitals, nursing homes, and homecare programs, while also calling for investments in healthcare and homecare services and jobs.
The forum comes as a new report from the National Employment Law Project highlights how widespread poverty among homecare workers is undermining care. While revenue in the home care industry has soared 48 percent over the past decade, average hourly wages for workers has declined by almost 6 percent during that period, according to the report. The homecare industry is one of the fastest growing fields in Massachusetts, with more than 3,000 homecare workers in the Worcester area alone.
Meanwhile, nursing home workers at more than two dozen facilities in Massachusetts will be seeking progress towards a living wage of $15/hour as they negotiate new labor contracts with their employers this year. Healthcare workers say they are uniting their struggles beginning with this forum as they ramp up for a series of mobilizations and demonstrations this year.
WHO: Area healthcare and homecare workers, members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, local legislators, healthcare advocates and community groups
WHAT: Healthcare workers’ forum to promote the Fight for $15 and investments in healthcare and homecare services.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 24th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Rock of Salvation Pentecostal Church, 829 Main St., Worcester, Mass.
# # #
Representing more than 52,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
Worcester, MA – Community allies and local legislators will join 1199SEIU healthcare workers at a forum in Worcester, Mass. on Tuesday, March 24th to discuss key legislative priorities, upcoming labor negotiations, and the emerging Fight for $15 movement.
Healthcare workers will speak out about the prevalence of poverty wages in area hospitals, nursing homes, and homecare programs, while also calling for investments in healthcare and homecare services and jobs.
The forum comes as a new report from the National Employment Law Project highlights how widespread poverty among homecare workers is undermining care. While revenue in the home care industry has soared 48 percent over the past decade, average hourly wages for workers has declined by almost 6 percent during that period, according to the report. The homecare industry is one of the fastest growing fields in Massachusetts, with more than 3,000 homecare workers in the Worcester area alone.
Meanwhile, nursing home workers at more than two dozen facilities in Massachusetts will be seeking progress towards a living wage of $15/hour as they negotiate new labor contracts with their employers this year. Healthcare workers say they are uniting their struggles beginning with this forum as they ramp up for a series of mobilizations and demonstrations this year.
WHO: Area healthcare and homecare workers, members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, local legislators, healthcare advocates and community groups
WHAT: Healthcare workers’ forum to promote the Fight for $15 and investments in healthcare and homecare services.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 24th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Rock of Salvation Pentecostal Church, 829 Main St., Worcester, Mass.
# # #
Representing more than 52,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
