Month: April 2021

April 7, 2021 Update: Amicable APs will get a $2.71 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in April, May, and June 2021.  

You can read the latest MOU here.   

January 15, 2021 Update: Amicable APs will continue to get a $2.71 increase to our base wages for all hours worked in January, February, and March 2021. We’ll also continue to receive an additional $2 of targeted Hazard Pay per hour if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client.

You can read the latest MOU here.

Amicable APs are also in the 1A priority group for getting the COVID-19 vaccine because of our advocacy as a Union. Learn how to get the vaccine here.

August 21, 2020 Update: We have exciting news for Amicable caregivers. Our bargaining team has been working to reach an agreement with Amicable about extending Hazard Pay – and thanks to workers raising their voices, we have made it happen!

Hazard pay: Amicable APs will now get a $2.71 increase to your base wages for all hours worked in July, August, and September. You’ll also receive an additional $2 an hour of targeted hazard pay if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client.  You’ll see your hazard pay for hours you already worked in your August 20 paycheck.

PPE: You will continue to be provided with all the necessary PPE for caring for all your clients.

You can read the latest MOU here. 

Through impact bargaining, Amicable caregivers have won:  

  1. Hazard Pay: Amicable APs will receive an additional $3 an hour for every hour worked in May and June. We are all on the front lines, so all Amicable APs will receive this pay, regardless if you are caring for a client with COVID-19. And you’ll get an additional $25 targeted-hazard pay per shift for taking care of COVID-19 test-positive clients. 
  2. More PPE: Amicable has committed to spending additional funds to provide PPE and supplies intended to protect workers, including one-time–use N-95 masks, gowns, and gloves for caring for test-positive clients. 
  3. Healthcare and Training: Amicable is increasing their hourly contribution rate to the Training Partnership and Health Benefits Trust for all hours worked in May and June, so no one loses healthcare coverage. 

Read the full MOU here.

Despite the State facing a growing budget deficit as a result of the pandemic, Governor Inslee agreed to increase funding for home care agencies like Amicable in order to provide this immediate support to caregivers. This was all made possible because of caregivers like you sending letters, signing petitions, sharing your stories, and so much more to demand the Legislature prioritize caregivers to receive Federal stimulus money.  

Standing together got us to this point – we need to keep this up to make sure that caregivers are treated as the essential professionals they are. 

April 7, 2021 Update: Chesterfield APs will get a $2.73 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in April, May, and June 2021.  

You can read the latest MOU here.   

January 15, 2021 Update: Chesterfield APs will continue to get a $2.73 increase to our base wages for all hours worked in January, February, and March 2021. We’ll also continue to receive an additional $2 of targeted Hazard Pay per hour if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client.  

 You can read the latest MOU here.   

 Chesterfield APs are also in the 1A priority group for getting the COVID-19 vaccine because of our advocacy as a Union. Learn how to get the vaccine here.  

August 24, 2020 update: We have exciting news for Chesterfield caregivers. Our bargaining team has been working to reach an agreement with Chesterfield about extending Hazard Pay – and thanks to workers raising their voices, we have made it happen!

Hazard pay: Chesterfield APs will now get a $2.73 increase to your base wages for all hours worked in July, August, and September. You’ll also receive an additional $25 per shift of targeted hazard pay if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client.  You’ll see your hazard pay for hours you already worked in your September 1 paycheck.

PPE: You will continue to be provided with all the necessary PPE for caring for all your clients.

You can read the latest MOU here.

Through impact bargaining Chesterfield caregivers have won:

  • Hazard Pay: Chesterfield APs will receive an additional $3 an hour for every hour worked in May and June. We are all on the front lines, so all Chesterfield APs will receive this pay regardless if you are caring for a client with COVID-19. And, you’ll get an additional $25 targeted-hazard pay per shift for taking care of COVID-19 test-positive clients.
  • More PPE: Chesterfield has committed to spending additional funds to provide PPE and supplies intended to protect workers, including one-time use N-95 masks, gowns, and gloves for caring for test-positive clients.
  • Healthcare and Training: Chesterfield is increasing their hourly contribution rate to the Training Partnership and Health Benefits Trust for all hours worked in May and June, so no one loses healthcare coverage.

See the full MOU here.

Despite the State facing a growing budget deficit as a result of the pandemic, Governor Inslee agreed to increase funding for home care agencies like Chesterfield in order to provide this immediate support to caregivers. This was all made possible because of caregivers like you sending letters, signing petitions, sharing your stories, and so much more to demand the Legislature prioritize caregivers to receive Federal stimulus money.

Standing together got us to this point, we need to keep this up to make sure that caregivers are treated as the essential professionals they are.

April 5, 2021 Update: First Choice APs will get a $2.54 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in April, May, and June 2021.  

You can read the latest MOU here.   

January 25, 2021 Update: First Choice APs will get a $2.54 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in January, February, and March 2021.  

You can read the latest MOU here.  

First Choice APs are also in the 1A priority group for getting the COVID-19 vaccine because of our advocacy as a Union. Learn how to get the vaccine here. 

August 13, 2020 Update: We have exciting news for First Choice caregivers. Our bargaining team has been working to reach an agreement with First Choice about extending Hazard Pay – and thanks to workers raising their voices, we have made it happen!

Hazard pay: First Choice APs will now get a $2.75 increase to your base wages for all hours worked in July, August, and September. You’ll see your hazard pay for hours you already worked in your September 1 paycheck.

PPE: You will continue to be provided with all the necessary PPE for caring for all your clients.

You can read the latest MOU here. 

Through impact bargaining, First Choice caregivers have won:  

  • Hazard Pay: First Choice APs will receive an additional $3.50 an hour for every hour worked in May and June. We are all on the front lines, so all First Choice APs will receive this pay regardless if you are caring for a client with COVID-19.  
  • More PPE: First Choice has committed to spending $166,000 to provide PPE and supplies intended to protect workers, including one-time use N-95 masks,  gowns, and gloves for caring for test-positive clients. 
  • Healthcare and Training: First Choice is increasing their hourly contribution rate to the Training Partnership and Health Benefits Trust for all hours worked in May and June, so no one loses healthcare coverage. 

See the full MOU here.

Despite the State facing a growing budget deficit as a result of the pandemic, Governor Inslee agreed to increase funding for home care agencies like First Choice in order to provide this immediate support to caregivers. This was all made possible because of caregivers like you sending letters, signing petitions, sharing your stories, and so much more to demand the Legislature prioritize caregivers to receive Federal stimulus money.  

Standing together got us to this point, we need to keep this up to make sure that caregivers are treated as the essential professionals they are. 

Amirah Harris, a caregiver in Tacoma and member of SEIU 775, received the vaccine and said it’s important for caregivers like her to get it.

“We are in contact with people who are not in the best health,” Harris noted. “We are in contact with people who cannot make the best decisions for themselves, so we have to make a good decision for ourselves in a way that impacts others in a good way.”

Harris added she’s spoken to colleagues who are skeptical about the vaccine and encourages them to do research into its safety.

Nearly 30% of Washingtonians have received at least one shot of the vaccine, according to the most recent data tracked by The New York Times.

Read more at Public News Service.

April 2, 2021 Update: KWA APs will get a $2.55 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in April, May, and June 2021. We’ll also receive an additional $1 of targeted Hazard Pay per hour if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client. 

You can read the latest MOU here.  

February 5, 2021 Update: KWA APs will get a $2.55 per hour increase to our base wages for all hours worked in January, February, and March 2021. We’ll also receive an additional $1 of targeted Hazard Pay per hour if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client. 

You can read the latest MOU here.  

KWA APs are also in the 1A priority group for getting the COVID-19 vaccine because of our advocacy as a Union. Learn how to get the vaccine here. 

August 21, 2020 update: We have exciting news for KWA caregivers. Our bargaining team has been working to reach an agreement with KWA about extending Hazard Pay – and thanks to workers raising their voices, we have made it happen!

Hazard pay: KWA APs will now get a $2.73 increase to your base wages for all hours worked in July, August, and September. You’ll also receive an additional $1 an hour of targeted hazard pay if taking care of a COVID-19 test-positive client.  You’ll see your hazard pay for hours you already worked in your August 31 paycheck.

PPE: You will continue to be provided with all the necessary PPE for caring for all your clients.

You can read the latest MOU here. 

Through impact bargaining, KWA caregivers have won:  

  1. Hazard Pay: KWA APs will receive an additional $3.15 an hour for every hour worked in May and June. We are all on the front lines, so all KWA APs will receive this pay, regardless if you are caring for a client with COVID-19. And you’ll get an additional $1 targeted-hazard pay per hour for taking care of COVID-19 test-positive clients. 
  2. More PPE: KWA has committed to spending additional funds to provide PPE and supplies intended to protect workers, including one-time-use N-95 masks, gowns, and gloves for caring for test-positive clients. 
  3. Healthcare and Training: KWA is increasing their hourly contribution rate to the Training Partnership and Health Benefits Trust for all hours worked in May and June, so no one loses healthcare coverage. 

See the full MOU here.

Despite the State facing a growing budget deficit as a result of the pandemic, Governor Inslee agreed to increase funding for home care agencies like KWA in order to provide this immediate support to caregivers. This was all made possible because of caregivers like you sending letters, signing petitions, sharing your stories, and so much more to demand the Legislature prioritize caregivers to receive Federal stimulus money.  

Standing together got us to this point – we need to keep this up to make sure that caregivers are treated as the essential professionals they are.