Massachusetts Personal Care Attendants Ratify New Contract With Exciting Benefits

Jul 09, 2012

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In early July, the more than 30,000 personal care attendants in Massachusetts who are members of 1199SEIU ratified a new contract with the PCA Workforce Council, the state-appointed negotiating authority for homecare workers.

The new three-year agreement includes:

  • A $.90 raise over the three years of the contract (from $12.48 to $13.38)
  • A $1 million fund for PCA training opportunities beginning in the second year of the contract
  • A $1.5 million paid time off benefit beginning in the third year of the contract
  • A health insurance reopener in the third year of the contract (after a subcommittee has met to assess PCA health insurance needs)
  • Health and safety language

PCAs are excited about the new contract and the increased benefits they will be receiving.

“I’m happy about the raises. The funding for education is very important. I’m very excited,” said Carlos Dias, a personal care attendant in New Bedford.

Jonathan Nieves of Holyoke echoed Carlos’ sentiments, but warned that PCAs still need to fight for the further improvements to wages and benefits they deserve.

“We cannot go anywhere beyond where we are now without organizing. We have to fight for what we need,” he said.

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Kristine Getherall-Monteforte commented 2012-07-25 16:29:00 -0400 · Flag
This supposed 90 cent raise ova 3 yrs 4 Mass PCA’s was suposta start July 1st w/ a 30 cent raise 2 b followed by another 30 cents next July 1st then 30 cents July 1st 2014. I say supposed because July 1st has come & gone & my fellow PCA both received only a 20 cent raise & nobody @ the local union will return my call 2 explain. I was told about the raise from a union rep! I feel lied 2 & am pissed off that the rep who told me will not call me back! She also said that Mass won’t give us Health Insurance either! Wuts that about? That’s the only reason I joined 1199. So now I hafta pay fully 4 insurance & can barely pay & now on top of that, Im being shorted on my supposed raise. Outrageous! Now, I am no longer a member & still have 2 pay 1.2% of my pay? This is a joke! There r no benefits of being in this union other than training! This is wut their union is about? I’d prefer 2 call it a fraud! People should wake & look @ wuts really goin in in their “union” cuz I’ve ben in em b4 & this is nothing like any union I’ve ever ben in!