NEW YORK – George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, issued the following statement today following the New York Wage Board’s decision to raise fast food workers’ wages to $15 an hour:

“The homecare and healthcare workers of 1199SEIU applaud the decision by the New York Wage Board to raise fast food workers’ wages to $15 an hour. All work has dignity, and all working people deserve security and the opportunity to provide a better future for their families. Inequality is out of control in New York and throughout our nation, and it is undermining our economy, our democracy and our bedrock American values.

“This bold action should be a first step toward expanding the $15 starting rate to all low wage workers, especially homecare and healthcare workers. Homecare is the fastest-growing job in America, and with the population aging, we need to ensure these are good jobs so we can provide compassionate care to seniors and people with disabilities. Because they have a union voice, 1199 homecare members in New York City have won low-cost, comprehensive healthcare, but they still only make $10 an hour. This is a moral travesty and leaves many homecare workers and their children mired in poverty. Today as we celebrate this victory for our city’s fast food workers, we are mobilizing our members to win $15 for all homecare workers, while protecting their healthcare. Together, we can win quality homecare for patients and good jobs for working families.”

###

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest union in New York and the largest healthcare union in the nation. The union represents over 400,000 healthcare workers in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and Washington, D.C. 1199SEIU’s mission is achieve quality healthcare and good jobs for all.