Details from Our First Nursing Home Legislative Conference Call of 2010

Wednesday, January 20

The first SEIU Healthcare 775NW nursing home legislative conference call of 2010 included workers from: Aldercrest, Georgian House, Sun Ballard, Sun Mercer Island, Mount St. Vincent, Hillcrest, Extendicare Pacific, Sunnyside and Vashon Island.

Budget Talk Dominates
The state faces a $2.6 billion budget deficit for just one year – from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Nursing Homes and the Budget
The Good: In the governor’s initial and second budget, there are no proposed cuts to nursing home funding.

The Bad: The legislature could still cut nursing homes in the budget. We need to be seen and heard in Olympia to prevent that.

The Future: We’re working with the nursing home industry to find a dedicated funding source for nursing homes. Once the economy improves, nursing home funding should also improve, which means more money would be available for worker wages and benefits.

The Lawsuit
Last year, the legislature approved and the governor signed a budget that included a 5 percent cut to nursing home funding. A lawsuit successfully prevented that cut, but, the lawsuit has yet to be decided by the courts.

Scrubs – Coming Soon
Nursing home workers will be asked to write a message to legislators on medical scrubs. Those scrubs will be collected and delivered to key legislators on Feb. 11.

Important Date
Thursday, Feb. 11 – Nursing Home Purple Presence in Olympia – We want as many nursing home workers who can attend to join us for a day of lobbying at the capitol. Some nursing home chains will pay you for the day. Talk to an organizer or call our Member Resource Center at 1(866) 371-3200 to learn more and/or sign up.

Making a Difference
SEIU Healthcare775NW Grassroots Organizer Cathy Byrd is a member and homecare worker from Spokane. She’s been going to the Capitol to lobby with us for the last five years, and she says, “When you make a trip to Olympia and talk to politicians, you really do make a difference.”