Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday that a nursing home strike that had loomed for Friday has been postponed following a tentative settlement between facility owners and health care workers.
Across the state, around 2,800 nursing home workers threatened to strike. In all, 26 facilities would have been affected.
Lamont says the state is dedicating $267 million more to nursing homes and workers.
“It also provides security for thousands of nursing home residents across our state. This agreement represents a commitment from the state and industry operators to ensure these workers are compensated fairly for their work, and a long-term commitment which provides predictability for both staff and patients,” Lamont said in a statement.
"This pay increase, retirement benefit enhancement, and strengthened training for our nursing home workers is long overdue," says state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney in a statement.
Workers at 11 of the facilities, all owned by i-Care, have signed off on a new four-year deal, according to the
SEIU 1199NE union.
i-Care agreed to boost pay to $20 an hour for CNAs and $30 an hour for LPNs - a major concession. All workers will receive a pension too.
Workers at other homes will also have to vote on it. If
any of them reject it, strikes could still happen in the next three weeks.