SEIU Loves Grampa

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wweek.com/wwire/?p=8907

SEIU Loves Grampa

August 8th 2007 9:08am

It’s not just middle-aged people. Unions like old people, too.

Service Employees International Union Local 503 and nursing homes reached a tentative agreement Monday night, forging a deal that covers over 800 workers.



By 2011, the workers will see a $2.65 hourly pay raise. The first installment of the wage increase comes Oct. 1, when workers will get an additional 70 cents per hour.

Sixteen nursing homes will be affected, all from the Prestige, Avamere, Evergreen and Pinnacle nursing home chains.

The agreement follows on the heels of a study commissioned by Gov. Ted Kulongoski that looked at nursing staff-to-patient ratios.

Beginning spring 2008, the ratios will be improved. During day shifts, instead of 10 patients per staff member, there will be seven. Evening and night shifts will follow suit.