New Connecticut PCA Labor Agreement Approved

The Connecticut General Assembly approved a new three-year agreement reached between the Connecticut Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Workforce Council and SEIU District 1199 New England.

The $19.3 million agreement provides significant wage and benefit enhancements that will make it more difficult for home care agencies participating in the Connecticut medical assistance program and Connecticut Home Care Program for the Elderly to compete unless they are provided commensurate wage increases and benefits to offset increased costs, including minimum wage, to attract and retain employees.

Several HCAOA Connecticut members testified before the Appropriations Committee or submitted comments about the impact of the agreement on agency-based home care and consumers. During floor debate on the resolutions adopting the agreements in the House of Representatives and Senate, several lawmakers echoed those comments. “You are going to ultimately end up with a brain drain of individuals from that [agency-based] workforce to this [self-directed] workforce, which is going to leave our most vulnerable behind,” said Senator Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), an elder law attorney. “I am extremely concerned about the damaging effect this is going to have on vulnerable seniors that don’t have the capability to enter into this relationship with their employee and don’t have the family supports.”

The agreement authorizes:
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• Wage increases of 26% over the life of the contract, from $18.25 per hour currently up to $23 per hour by Jan. 1, 2026.
• Rewards longevity with bonus payments of $400 or $800, depending on the annualized number of hours worked per week.
• Provides two additional paid holidays (Juneteenth and Labor Day).
• Expands paid time off.
• Expands health care premium assistance.
• Supports career development through voluntary training options and tuition reimbursement.

The agreement requires approval by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.