SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania

02/19/2021

Happy #NationalCaregiversDay! Share this post to let the world know why #CareIsEssential. We won't stop fighting until all care workers are respected, protected, and invested in.

02/17/2021

9to5: The Story of a Movement

🎶 Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving 😤

When Dolly Parton sang “9 to 5,” she was singing about a real movement: American secretaries were fed up with workplace abuse in the '70's. They took to the streets to demand better treatment and fair pay, leading to nationwide improvements for working women.

Our union is hosting a *free* virtual screening of the new documentary "9to5: The Story of a Movement" for our members. The screening is this Saturday, February 20th, from 2-4 pm EST. RSVP here:

The documentary is about 9to5: The National Association of Working Women, the feminist labor organization that SEIU helped build in the 1970s. This event is being made available to SEIU members, leaders, retirees, staff, and worker leaders/organizing committee members on campaigns on a first come, f...

02/17/2021

Why should we trust a vaccine that was developed so quickly

Why should we trust a vaccine that's been developed so quickly? ✅ Because it's gone through the same vigorous testing and safety measures as any other vaccine we take and medicine we use.

Healthcare workers are first in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, but many of us may still have questions we would like answered before getting our vaccines. Check out more information on the vaccine and commonly asked questions here: http://www.seiuhcpa.org/2021/01/19/vaccine-resources-for-caregivers/

02/16/2021

PA House Democratic Policy Committee

11,00 nursing home residents have died of COVID 19. Watch President Yarnell speak out for changes and real reform to save seniors and protect caregivers: https://www.facebook.com/PADemPolicy/videos/159377415992206

LIVE NOW: Learning more on the PA Dept. of Health’s efforts to protect people who live or work in long-term care.

02/14/2021

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Share if you love our healthcare workers, who care for our communities every single day.

02/13/2021

SEIU members are eligible for so many great deals! Check out all they have to offer: https://www.seiumb.com/

02/11/2021

Nurses and other healthcare workers across the state have already received their vaccines! Now they’re sharing their experiences with fellow union caregivers. Are you a member of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania who received your COVID-19 vaccine? Share your experience → http://bit.ly/3p1ZrWp

02/10/2021

Pa. healthcare group demands changes to nursing home regulations

“It’s a life or death situation. Our seniors need more staffing. Without it, their quality of life is not there.” - Liz Empson, LPN

This past Monday, Tina Siegel, LPN, Liz Empson, LPN, and Michelle Cooper whose father is a nursing home resident voiced the concerns of thousands of caregivers and residents who are calling on the Department of Health and legislators to update Pennsylvania's nursing home regulations. Enough is enough: Protect seniors, respect caregivers, and toughen these regulations today to save lives.

Add your name to support updating our nursing home regulations: https://bit.ly/ProtectSeniorsRespectCaregivers

A Pennsylvania nurse union is demanding change after the pandemic tore through nursing homes killing thousands of seniors.

02/09/2021

"The COVID-19 Pandemic has exposed some long-standing weaknesses in our healthcare system—chronic understaffing, failure to hire and fill the many positions that are desperately needed, and a lack of funding... The dilemma we now face stems from years of poor policies and budget cuts brought on by our elected officials." - Dana Greenwood, RN at a state hospital

In this powerful letter to the editor, Dana Greenwood emphasizes that funding for public health needs to be taken seriously—to protect healthcare workers in state facilities and keep statewide communities safe.

Read the rest: https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-2-7-2021/article_922d2817-5a90-50b1-ae86-8d3008cc2267.html

02/08/2021

LIVE: Join the Enough is Enough: Protect Seniors, Respect Caregivers Press Conference

LIVE: For years, caregivers have demanded better staffing and tougher regulation. Today, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to update these regulations. Join us in calling on the Department of Health, Governor Wolf, and all elected leaders to update the state’s nursing home regulations to save lives, and listen to caregivers and resident families share why the time to fix the long-term care system is now.

Click here to support updating PA's nursing home regulations and increase staffing to save lives: http://bit.ly/ProtectSeniorsRespectCaregivers

02/08/2021

Nearly 10,000 Pennsylvania nursing home residents have died of COVID-19—52% of total deaths. Three of the country’s 15 facilities with the most severe outbreaks are in the Commonwealth. In yesterday’s Sunday paper, nursing home workers across the state openly called on the Department of Health, Governor Wolf, and all elected leaders to update the state’s nursing home regulations to save lives.

For years, caregivers have demanded better staffing and tougher regulation. Today we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to update these regulations. ➤➤ Join our livestream today at 3:30 PM EST, where caregivers and resident families will share with the media why the time to fix the long-term care system is now.

02/05/2021

A message from Matthew Yarnell

The COVID-19 action plan that moved out of the US Senate Friday ensures that thousands of caregivers taking care of Pennsylvanians through the Commonwealth, public and private nursing homes, and homecare services will be able to stay on the job. That’s great news for caregivers and critical for the people we care for.

Read Matt Yarnell's full statement about today's bold plan:

The Time For Bold Action Is Now

02/04/2021

Is the vaccine safe for people with preexisting conditions like diabetes or seizures

Is the vaccine safe for people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or seizures? Yes! ✅

While healthcare workers are first in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, many of us may still have questions we need answered, like the one above, before we decide to get vaccinated. Find more information and answers to FAQs about the vaccine here: http://www.seiuhcpa.org/2021/01/19/vaccine-resources-for-caregivers/

02/02/2021

Many nurses across the state have already received their vaccines and are sharing their experiences with fellow union healthcare workers. Are you a member of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and have received your COVID-19 vaccine? Share your experience: http://bit.ly/3p1ZrWp

02/02/2021

PA State Nurses Speak Out for Better Staffing and an End to Cuts to Public Health | BCTV

Pennsylvania ranks a shocking 44th out of 50 states in the amount spent on public health per capita. "“I want to be clear - nurses aren’t crying for ourselves, we’re crying for our patients. Knowing that people might be suffering and we could do more if only we had more nurses is really hard. We get into this work to help people, and we’ll never stop advocating” - John Berezansky, RN, PA Dept. of Health
https://www.bctv.org/2021/01/25/pa-state-nurses-speak-out-for-better-staffing-and-an-end-to-cuts-to-public-health/

02/01/2021

Join the Care is Essential Prayer Vigil!

Join the national, interdenominational prayer vigil to lift up home care and nursing home workers to kick off Black History Month. As care workers. we’re the backbone of our community, and we’re all uniting to win racial and economic justice. RSVP here
act.seiu.org/a/care-workers-prayer-vigil

Join the Care is Essential Prayer Vigil. We’re lifting our voices for a more just long term care system with higher wages, affordable healthcare, paid sick leave, and quality care that works for consumers and workers.

01/30/2021

"...we continued to talk to management, but our concerns
kept falling on deaf ears. We formed one as we want to make sure residents continue to get the high quality of care our home is known for." -Diane Pritiskutch, caregiver at Schuylkill Center and new SEIU Healthcare PA union member. http://bit.ly/3tbk8Sv

01/29/2021

The Coalition for Aging LGBT, Alzheimer’s Association, and SAGE are hosting an LGBTQ Caregiver Conference on Friday, Feb. 12, from 9am-12:30pm. Explore important information on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, the impact on the LGBTQ community, intergenerational experiences, legal and financial resources, and a special breakout for professionals on fostering cultural competency for eldercare professionals. Register at http://tinyurl.com/AlzLGBTQ or by calling 1-800-272-3900.

01/29/2021

Genesis Healthcare took $300M in CARES Act money & then gave their top execs millions. @ElizabethWarren calls out this "unfathomable greed" in an open letter
(https://aboutblaw.com/ViM ).

01/28/2021

Pandemic drives business support for paid leave, study finds

All working people deserve paid sick leave. We can't take care of those who count on us, or beat this pandemic, without it.

So far during the COVID-19 outbreak, 1-in-5 U.S. workers have taken a leave of some kind.

01/27/2021

Many frontline caregivers have already received their first dose of the vaccine. While vaccines are a proven tool to help us fight this pandemic, many of us still have questions we need answered before we decide to get vaccinated. Find more information about the vaccine here: http://bit.ly/3c0vvqx

01/26/2021

SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania's cover photo

01/26/2021

When we stand together, we have the power to make sure we are respected, protected and paid. #UnionsForAll

01/25/2021

Pennsylvania nurses call for staffing, funding to support patients

PA ranks an embarrassing 45th in public health spending. “We need our legislators to fully fund our state health system. We need any federal aid that comes into our state to go into solving the staffing crisis" -Christina Hauser, RN with PA Dept. of Corrections

State nurses are speaking out to demand a public health system to protect the people of our state.

Cuts in funding and staffing have left PA state nurses with few resources, and they are now demanding solutions to ensure proper care for patients.

01/24/2021

Nurses and other frontline healthcare workers across Pennsylvania have already received their vaccines and they’re sharing their experiences with fellow union caregivers. Are you a member of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania who received your COVID-19 vaccine? Share your experience http://bit.ly/3p1ZrWp

01/22/2021

Welcome Schuylkill Center workers! Caregivers at Schuylkill Center, a Genesis nursing home in Pottsville, overwhelmingly voted to form their union! They join thousands of caregivers - including hundreds of other Genesis workers - to have a stronger voice in their Five Star resident care and stand up for better jobs and safety in the midst of the COVID crisis.

01/21/2021

Crisis within a Crisis: Health Workers on the Front Line of COVID-19 - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

"A study in New York State found that nursing homes with unions were associated with a 42 percent relative decrease in COVID-19 infection rate among residents and a 30 percent decrease in mortality. The researchers attributed the better outcomes to the effort by unions to ensure their members got access to PPE...Better pay and benefits will also have made a difference, decreasing the need for workers to have multiple jobs or return to work when ill."

COVID-19 has revealed deep cracks in US healthcare, particularly for workers. But this could be a transformational moment if we invest in a caring future.

01/20/2021

"We’re fighting for our residents as much as we are for ourselves,." - Danielle Fox, LPN

Respect us, protect us, invest in us. That means a fair contract for caregivers immediately.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/rebuild/article248418535.html

01/20/2021

Today we welcome the 46th President and Vice President of the United States! Caregivers are looking forward to working with this administration in protecting all essential workers and ensuring strong unions for all.

#InaugurationDay

01/20/2021

Frontline caregivers are first in line to receive their vaccine. While vaccines are a proven technology to prevent the spread of disease, many of us still have questions we need answered before we decide to get vaccinated. Find more information about the vaccine here http://bit.ly/3c0vvqx

01/20/2021

A contract for care workers that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | Opinion - Minnesota Reformer

"I see every day — both as a worker and a client — what our historical undervaluing of care work means for families. It’s hard not to get frustrated when you hear about rich corporations getting even richer while care workers are stuck making poverty wages. But it’s our job, as King showed, to not just be frustrated, but to raise our voices against injustice, organize and make change."

Home care workers tentative contract, negotiated between the state of Minnesota and SEIU, is in synch with MLK Day and its mandate for justice.

01/19/2021

Today we mourn the passing of Ted Kirsch, longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania (AFT).

Ted dedicated his life to improving public education and the lives of teachers across the state. His commitment to working people and our collective union family is felt across the Commonwealth, and we send our deepest condolences.

#1u

01/19/2021

No one knows more about how this virus has affected people’s lives and health than frontline caregivers. The COVID vaccine is one tool to beat the virus and lead our communities out of a devastating health and economic crisis, and we continue to fight for the PPE, widespread and rapid testing, hazard pay and paid sick time that we need!

01/19/2021

Fight for $15 Home Care

"I have a dream that some day soon, caregivers will not have to work three jobs to make ends meet."

This #MLKday, we’re sharing our dreams for a just long term care system. Respect, protection, and family sustaining wages shouldn’t be too much to ask. With the Biden-Harris care workforce plan, and the power of care workers united, we will make these dreams a reality!

01/18/2021

Today we remember and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who gave the length, breadth, and height of his life fighting for freedom, justice, and dignity for all. His commitment to civil rights and the poor and disinherited is a tremendous legacy we must continue together today.

In his 1968 speech to Local 1199, he said: "Most of the poor people in our country are working every day. You know where they are working. So often they are working in our hospitals, and all over this country. I thank God for what your union has done, and what you continue to do... And I say if we will stand and work together, we will bring into being that day, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. We will bring into being that day, when America will no longer be two nations, but will be one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."