SEIU 775
New Union Caregivers for People With Disabilities Win Higher Pay, Safer Conditions
Winning a first contract for new union caregivers of people with disabilities, with huge improvements to safety, benefits, and some of the highest pay for supportive living caregivers in the state and country.
Challenges
Workers at Evergreen Supported Living in Bellingham, WA voted to join SEIU 775 in June 2024 but after more than a year of bargaining with no real movement, staff threatened to strike. Workers said disrespectful treatment, a lack of training and low wages was driving high turnover and poor morale, impacting consistency of care which is so important to clients’ wellbeing.
“Your work really helped put substantial and meaningful pressure on the employer. Y'all helped shift the Overton window on what we and the workers thought was possible at bargaining. In addition to winning a strong contract, I know workers felt so empowered by the various opportunities you enabled for them."
Vishal Reddy
SEIU 775 Collective Bargaining and Employer Relations
How We Did It
Team Powerhouse created video ads to increase public awareness and move stakeholders, management, and the organization’s board. We landed news stories in the Bellingham Herald and the Cascadia Daily News, and an op-ed in the Bellingham Herald. Organizers leveraged public and business support for workers through an online petition and secured a letter from the Bellingham City Council urging management to address safety and pay issues.
Bellingham Herald 10/04/25
