Nursing home owners from four different
chains and SEIU Local 503 reached a tentative agreement last night on
a new contract. Both management and workers agree that this contract
will lead to better care for nursing home residents, improved wages
for workers and increased staffing levels.
“We’re very proud of this contract.
It is a big win for residents and workers,” said Diane King, a
nursing home employee in Oregon City. “The wage increases and
improvements in our contract will help us attract and retain skilled
workers. Because of that we can staff up and greatly improve the
quality of life for our residents.”
The four year contract, which covers
over 800 workers calls for $2.65 cent per hour wage and benefit
improvements over the life of the agreement. Wage increases are
effective October 1st each year as follows: $.70, $.50,
$.60, $.50.
Benefit improvements ranged from
putting money into a health care flex account, helping offset the
costs of health care, to establishing shift differentials.
Starting in the spring of 2008,
improved staffing ratios in nursing homes will be phased in from 10
to 7 residents per staff person on day shift, from 15 to 11 on
evening shift and from 25 to 18 on the night shift.
The new contract is a result of a
Oregon commission created due to the joint advocacy efforts of SEIU
and Nursing Home Operators. In 2006 Governor Kulongoski agreed to
appoint a commission to study the relationship between staffing
ratios and quality care in nursing homes. The recommendations of the
Commission were achieved primarily because the 2007 Oregon
legislature approved $3 million to implement improved staffing
ratios.
The nursing home chains affected by the
new 4 year agreement are Prestige, Avamere, Evergreen and Pinnacle.
Nursing home workers will be voting on the agreement over the next
few weeks.
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A list of
affected nursing homes by geographical area is provided on the
following page
Location of nursing homes affected
by the tentative agreement.
Salem Area
Evergreen Windsor – Salem
Avamere Soth Salem - Salem
Evergreen-Independence
Avamere-Lebanon
Portland area
Prestige Porthaven – Portland
Evergreen Karrington - Portland
Avamere-Hillsboro
Evergreen-Hillsboro
Avamere-Clackamas
Prestige-Hood River
Eastern Oregon
Evergreen-Milton-Freewater
Prestige Willowbrook Terrace –
Pendleton
Evergreen Health and Rehab – LaGrande
Evergreen Vista – LaGrande
Evergreen-The Dalles
Southern Oregon
Prestige Linda Vista – Ashland