Homecare Bargaining update:  June 17, 2025 Session    

Homecare Bargaining update:  June 17, 2025 Session    

 SEIU Local 503’s Homecare bargaining team met with the State last week (June 17) and reached tentative agreements on proposals that advance the rights, protections, and support for care providers once our contract is finalized and ratified by members.  

Upcoming Bargaining Dates:  

Tuesday, July 1
Tuesday, July 8
Wednesday, July 9  

Watch for updates as we push for stronger wages, better benefits, and more protections for care providers across Oregon! 

 Tentative Agreements Reached: 

 Indoor Animal Care: For the first time, we won language that provides clarity for providers when it comes to pets or animals in consumers’ homes. This provision:  

• Clarifies what kind of animal-related support we can choose to offer.  

• Gives us the choice—we now have the right to say yes or no to helping with animal care.  

• Improves safety by setting clear standards for when there are pets or other domestic animals in the home.  

 Language Access: Being able to read critical job information in your preferred language was a must for our bargaining team in this contract. Because we relayed our personal stories, we won!  By no later than January 2027, all providers will have the right to:  

• Request their task list or Individual Support Plan (ISP) in their preferred language.  

• Access Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC)-produced materials—including background check information—translated into the top seven most common languages used by providers.  

 This is a big win for language justice and a major step forward!   

Letter of Agreement (LOA) on PACE: We reached agreement on an interim process to improve access and information to PACE training from the Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC), making this crucial training more accessible for all providers moving forward.  

Letter of Agreement (LOA) on Marketing & Recruitment: Because of our work last bargaining cycle, the Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC) has finally started recruiting union care providers through radio ads, flyers, posters, and ads on YouTube. They all link to this website: https://oregonhomecarejobs.com/ (send it to your friends).   

In this contract we want to make sure the work to recruit new union care providers continues. And we succeeded again! We reached a tentative agreement to support and expand OHCC’s efforts. This includes:  

•  A commitment to continue the work they have started.  

•  An obligation for the employer to make all reasonable efforts to include recruitment materials in local DHS offices.  

What’s Next?  

 We are preparing to move into economic negotiations and to finalize outstanding proposals at the next sessions.