The legislative efforts of 1199 members paid off big time when the state passed its fiscal year 2014 budget on June 24, which includes an additional of $10.3 million in funding for New Jersey’s nursing homes. This amount will receive a federal match, for a total increase of $20.6 million.

Over the past several months, 1199ers made it their priority to engage with elected officials and explain the real impact that insufficient funding is having on their ability to deliver care to nursing home residents across the state.

As part of this campaign, 35 1199SEIU members went to Trenton on June 6 to speak directly with legislators. “The staff is always short and there’s hardly any linen to work with,” explained Effie Gregory, who works as a CNA in Lodi, NJ. “Sometimes we get patients who have certain conditions or diseases, but we don’t have the supplies we need to take the proper precautions.”

Aja Dunham-Beckett, a CNA from Voorhees, NJ, played her part in securing additional funding by participating in budget hearings. Last March, she testified in front of a budget committee. “My primary job is to bathe, feed, and dress residents, many of whom are very frail and need a lot of help. If nursing homes aren’t able to stay open or are forced to lay-off staff, I worry what will happen. For some of the residents, we are their only family.”

In addition to safeguarding quality care, the additional funding will also help members win stronger contracts. At the bargaining table, 1199ers will be able to point to 20 million reasons why employees have the money to provide fair wages and quality health benefits for their dedicated caregivers.