Add-ons at Addus/Portland

Re-opener Leads to Gains for Portland Homecare Workers

SEIU 503 members in Addus Healthcare’s Portland unit have reached agreement on a contract re-opener that increases wages, expands some benefits and sets the stage for future labor-management collaboration on a plan to attract more private-pay clients to the company.

The workers are part of the nation’s only private-pay homecare bargaining unit.

“We are proud of this agreement,” said Gertrude Lynch, a member of the bargaining team. “When a company like Addus takes care of its workers, we are able to provide better care to our clients and the company can grow.  In this economy, investing in our workforce makes sense”

Under a letter of agreement retroactive to April following months of negotiations, the caregivers will receive a 3-5% raise this August 1 and next depending on company profits, an increase in the 24-hour caregiver rate, parity with the skilled nursing staff on time off provisions and a decrease to 32 hours a week (from 35) to trigger benefits associated with full-time employment.

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