About the campaign

The results are in: personal care attendants in Massachusetts have voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a union with 1199SEIU, the largest and fastest growing local union in the United States. This historic election was the largest union election in New England history, garnering support from consumers, seniors and disability advocacy groups across the state. Of participating voters, 94% of PCAs voted in favor of a union. Read the Boston Globe's coverage of election results.

Personal care attendants in Massachusetts have formed a union with 1199SEIU to make improvements to the PCA system and provide quality care. Through SEIU, PCAs are joining a national movement of home care workers to fight for better wages, health benefits, paid time off and improved quality of care for consumers. Working with community organizations, families, consumers, and advocates for seniors and people with disabilities, SEIU home care workers are winning a voice on the job and making significant improvements in home care across the country.

As more and more people choose to live independently in their homes, the need for home care workers is increasing. SEIU caregivers are the leading force behind the movement to build a stable home care workforce and ensure that consumers are able to receive the quality care they need to live independently. Sign up to support the campaign!

Across the country, SEIU personal care attendants have won:

• HIGHER WAGES
  Home care workers in Washington state achieved a wage increase of $1.25/hr over two years.


• HEALTH COVERAGE
  Home caregivers in Oregon and California secured comprehensive health coverage for themselves and their families.


• BETTER BENEFITS
  Home care workers in Washington state won paid vacation, vision and dental coverage and more money the longer they stay on the job.


• A VOICE FOR QUALITY CARE
  Here in Massachusetts, PCAs worked with seniors and people with disabilities to create a Quality Homecare Workforce Council that will establish a registry to match PCAs with consumers and provide recruitment and training opportunities for PCAs.

The Quality Workforce Council

In July 2006, personal care attendants, consumers and ally organizations worked with 1199SEIU to help pass the Quality Home Care bill, which received unanimous support from the state legislature. As part of the bill, the consumer-led Quality Workforce Council was formed, a nine-member committee working to improve the PCA system. The bill also gave PCAs the right to form a union and negotiate with the Quality Workforce Council for better wages and benefits.