(ACROSS NEW YORK STATE) - Home Care Providers represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East, the largest Health Care Workers Union, who are employed at Community Care Home Health Services have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their very first Union contract - a three-year deal that runs until December 31st, 2026.

About 1,600 Workers - from Long Island to Buffalo, are covered by the agreement. 

Almost 400 of the Workers covered by the agreement are based in the Buffalo and Rochester Region and include Personal Care Attendants and Home Health Aides - who provide essential care, such as toileting, bathing and feeding to seniors and people with disabilities in their homes. 

They join more than 150,000 Unionized Home Care Workers across New York State who are covered by Union contracts.

Those Upstate Home Care Workers covered by the new contract will now earn $17.55 per hour and will have wage increases each year of the contract.

By January 1st, 2026, Upstate Home Care Workers will earn $18.70 per hour.

The three-year deal also includes: An optional 401k Retirement Plan and bereavement leave; maintenance of their current health insurance coverage; and seven new paid holidays. 

In addition, when Workers provide care for their home care clients on three selected holidays receive time and a half. 

On the remaining holidays, they will be paid $3 above their regular rate.

The agreement also covers compensation for training and travel expenses when aiding home care clients with their errands.

Caregivers will also earn paid time off based on hours worked and will be allowed to carry over 40 hours from one year to the next.  

“This is a good first contract as Home Care Workers,” said Toni Felton, a Certified Home Health Aide/Personal Care Attendant.  “We had a lot of ground to cover and it was hard at times.  We did our homework and asked the key questions to find out what our Members needed and went after it.  We did our best to get them.  We secured some good things including pay raises and holidays.  For many, it may be their first time being involved in a Union.”

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, is the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in New York and nationwide, representing more than 450,000 Members throughout the States of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida, and in Washington, D.C.

1199 SEIU Provided Photo.