Home Care for Maine's Tentative Agreement goes out for Ratification by Members

Information packets and ballots have been mailed out to Home Care for Maine MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 members today. A full copy of the Tentative Agreement between Home Care for Maine and its workers can be viewed at Home Care for Maine's Tentative Agreement. For questions or to receive a printed copy, contact our field rep, C.J. Betit at 1-800-452-8794, ext. 1119 or contact Helen Hanson, Local 771 president, at helen.hnsn@gmail.com. The negotiating team was able to gain a two percent across-the-board raise as part of this agreement, while eliminating the confusing quarterly stipend program. The increase comes during the worst economic conditions we've experienced in our working lives which has been further exasperated by Home Care for Maine's loss of the Homemaking Services Contract. The Homemaking Services Contract had nearly a $4 an hour higher reimbursement rate than the remaining contract. After having MSEA's expert review the financial books of Home Care for Maine, we were convinced this is the most we can get as a raise at this time and even this amount puts the Agency's budget at a loss (in the red) for the next fiscal year. In order to make up the budget gap and, possibly, increase wages further, we need all workers to work as many hours as they possibly can as this is what increases revenue. The Tentative Agreement includes wage re-openers for a possible bonus and further across-the-board increases based upon the amount of billable hours worked during the course of a year. In addition to the financial improvements above, the team was also able to make other improvements to the contract. A lot of these improvements revolve around finding additional funding to further improve wages, benefits, and working conditions of members. We are also looking at training opportunities for employees, as well as exploring revenue sources that could eventually provide health insurance for employees. There are also new articles around scheduling and maintenance of benefits, which means the Agency cannot make changes to wages, benefits or working conditions not expressly stated in the contract. The members of MSEA Local 771 continue to make improvements to our contract through bargaining. We also continue to fight in the legislature for improvements to the direct care system and improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions for all of us. We encourage all members to vote to accept this contract as we all continue to work for a better future. Please vote by selecting either Accept or Reject on the ballot that was mailed today. The ballots must be received by MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Headquarters by 5:00 pm on September 18, 2009. Use the enclosed postage-paid envelope to return your ballot. The ballots will be counted at Local 771's chapter meeting on September 19, 2009. All members are encouraged and welcome to attend the ballot count.

NOTICE

What: Membership meetings to answer questions on the tentative contract agreements

When: Saturday, August 29 and Wednesday, September 2

Where: By phone or in person (Sept. 2 only)

Phone-in Number: 1-866-862-9434 (toll free), conference code 674267

Who: Field Representative C.J. Betit and bargaining team members will be available to answer questions.

MEETING 1 (phone only)

Saturday, August 29

9 am to 10 am

Call 1-866-862-9434, code 674267

MEETING 2

Wednesday, September 2

4:30 to 5:30 pm

Call 1-866-862-9434, code 674267

OR

Join us in person at

MSEA, 65 State Street, Augusta

FMI: contact C.J. Betit at 1-800-452-8794, ext 1119