SAINT PAUL – Members of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA who work in nursing homes, home care and mental health settings celebrated steps forward in the Minnesota budget that passed during Monday’s one-day special session. The Union praised the final Human Services Working Group deal, which makes important progress for workers, the disabled, and the elderly, despite a difficult state budget situation and looming threats from the Federal Government.

The Human Services Working Group bill fully funds the 2-year union contract between SEIU Healthcare & IA and the State that covers over 35,000 homecare workers across the state. Highlights of the contract include wage and benefit increases and steps towards creating a defined-contribution retirement program for this workforce in the future.

Antonietta Giovanni, a home care worker and member of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA , spoke out about the gains made by home care workers and clients:

“I am so thankful this bill was passed, adding another step forward for our critical work towards a world where we make sure home care workers and our clients have what we need to live our full lives. As we fight to stop Medicaid cuts at the federal level, it was nice to see the widespread support for improving wages and benefits like retirement security for our work so that we can make sure we have enough people willing to do this work to care for Minnesotans across the state.

Another priority of healthcare workers in SEIU HCMNIA this session was funding the new minimum wage rule from the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, which also passed as part of the larger bill. The nursing home industry recently saw their lawsuit dismissed where they attempted to stop the paid holidays set by the Board that began earlier this year as part of the Board’s work to address the workforce shortage that is harming workers and residents across Minnesota.

The funding from the Human Services Working Group bill ensures an industry-wide minimum wage for all workers of $19 an hour starting in 2026 and $20.50 in 2027. There are higher minimum wages for Certified Nursing Assistants ($22.50/$24), Trained Medication Aides ($23.50/$25), and Licensed Practical Nurses ($27/$28.50).

Travis Burth, a nursing home worker and member of SEIU Healthcare MN & IA, shared his excitement around these changes and why changes to hold the industry accountable are good for workers and residents.

"I'm so excited that legislators heard the voices of nursing home workers and patients and stood up to the industry operators when they asked for another blank check. While the industry was pushing a failed lawsuit to take away paid holidays from us, the legislature funded minimum wage increases for Minnesota nursing home workers and started the process of holding the owners of this industry responsible so that we can be sure that our state's money goes to workers and residents, not to line the pockets of a CEO. We still have a lot of work to do, but it's great to see this critical step forward by the Minnesota legislature to support nursing home workers and residents."

With both proposals, the legislature is making certain that money will go directly to workers and will help ensure quality care for our seniors and the disabled.

SEIU members who work in the mental health industry also organized this session to press state legislators to pass increased medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health services across Minnesota. By pushing for fair compensation, these workers helped expand access to essential services, making it possible for more professionals to offer treatment to Medicaid recipients, protect inpatient beds and start to relieve the boarding crisis in our emergency rooms.

Eric Immler, a Psychiatric Associate and member of SEIU HCMNIA, noted that Medicaid is the largest funder of mental health services in Minnesota and that for too long it has underpaid community providers, clinicians and hospitals for the care they provide. He shared workers’ appreciation for this first step in changes to address the crisis facing their industry:

“This underfunding has contributed to limiting care, closing operations and cutting staffing despite our state facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Recent proposed cuts to federal Medicaid have further threatened the survival of these critical resources. Through capital visits, calls and emails, we as union members in this field showed decision makers the reality facing workers and patients. Our advocacy will not only improve working conditions for health care professionals but also ensures that mental health care is accessible to those who need it most. More Minnesotans will be able to get support before it becomes a crisis and those who need more serious intervention won't have to wait for so long for that higher level of care. I am deeply grateful for the courage of our members as well as to the vision and expertise of the bill authors and ally organizations.”