Bargaining Update

SEIU 503 Homecare Bargaining co-chairs Patty Falkenstein and Cristal DeJarnac and executive director Melissa Unger presented our opening statement, emphasizing how critical our work was during the early days of the pandemic and how now, caring for our consumers is more important than ever.

We shared stories about our struggles and how we need the state to address each of our core priorities: wages, benefits, paid time off, hours and respect. Being the most language-diverse bargaining unit at SEIU 503, we drove home the point of the state’s need to communicate to workers in languages we understand best, rather than providing documents and information only in English.

Our petition signed by homecare/personal support workers and supporters garnered nearly 7,000 names, enough to fill the walls in the room where we met with the state.

We began the process of exchanging proposals at the table and meet again on Tuesday, April 4th.

Save the date: On Wednesday, May 17th, we will hold a solidarity rally at the state capitol in Salem. Your families and consumers are welcome to purple up and join us – register today by clicking this link!