Union leaders say they've reached a tentative deal that will stop a threatened strike at 20 Connecticut nursing homes and provide a $15 per hour minimum wage to certified nursing assistants.If ratified, the agreement will cover 2,600 workers at facilities owned by iCare and Genesis.
Jennifer Schneider, communications director for SEIU 1199, said Wednesday the $15 minimum wage for nursing assistants will now be a goal for future negotiations with other nursing home companies.
The union is currently negotiating on behalf of workers at seven homes owned by Paradigm Healthcare.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration began meeting this summer with union officials to find a fair way of distributing $26 million in additional state and federal funds, in each of the next two years, to union- and non-union nursing homes.
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