Baltimore Nursing Home Workers Win Contract

Workers at the Catonsville Commons and Long Green Commons nursing homes approved a new contract on June 27. "We made a tremendous move, especially with the health insurance," said Cassandra Williams, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Catonsville Commons. "We pay out of our pockets and it was very high. Getting the health insurance down was important - now I can see the money that I earn in my paycheck." Approximately 180 workers -- members of 1199 SEIU United Healthworkers East Maryland/DC -- gained new benefits, the union reported. Highlights include a 3.45% wage increase over three years, reducing the split on health insurance to 70/30 employer/employee per individual and 65/35 for dependent coverage, increasing starting pay rate for Certified Nursing Assistants and Certified Medicine Aides and creating a training fund contribution of 1% of gross payroll starting on December 1, 2008 for members to gain new skills and upgrade to higher paying jobs.