First in the Nation!

First in the Nation!

Historic Adult Foster Care Agreement

Adult foster home care providers represented by Local 503 of the Service Employees International Union have negotiated an historic one-year agreement with the State of Oregon, becoming the first such workers in the U.S. to win a union contract.
The settlement, which comes after seven months of bargaining with the State Dept of Human Services, covers about 2,000 professional providers who care for up to five clients as well as 1,500 individuals who care for relatives in the Medicaid-funded adult foster care program.

Bargaining between Adult Foster Care Providers and the State of Oregon continued for seven months. Caucuses such as shown here provided ample opportunities to consider and discuss the pros and cons of various proposals.

The program is seen as both efficient and humane, offering a lower-cost and more personal alternative to institutional care.

The accord follows legislation signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski in July 2007 recognizing the providers' right to organize, executive orders signed by the Governor certifying SEIU 503 as bargaining agent for both groups of providers after majorities signed cards in support of representation by the local, and $6.96 million voted by legislators in the special session in February 2008 to fund rate increases. Without the increases some providers said they could no longer afford to stay in the program.

Exultant members of the union's elected bargaining committee will schedule ratification votes at regional sites around the state and have unanimously recommended a yes vote.

"Since 2007, we have banded together as a union, speaking out with one voice for dignity-for ourselves and for our residents," the committee wrote to adult foster care providers. "Instead of facing decisions thrust upon us, now we can be decision makers. We are not alone now, but standing together, working together to improve standards of care for our residents and improve our own quality of life."

The tentative agreement provides for a $260 per client per month increase in service fees, plus a 2.1% cost of living increase retroactive to 7/1/08. For providers with five clients, that amounts to over $15,000 per year in increased service fee. The union also won a new training program, a grievance procedure, and a provision for pre-placement planning, ensuring providers appropriate information before clients are placed in their homes.

In March New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine followed Kulongoski's lead, signing an executive order that made New Jersey the second state to recognize an adult foster home care providers union, a local of the Communication Workers of America. Negotiations are under way there.