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Sunrise Northeast group home workers walk out on strike

Connecticut Public Radio | By Joe Amon,
Nicole Leonard
Published October 12, 2021 at 5:41 PM EDT
Emily Strother, a direct support professional, leads a chant as she and other Sunrise Northeast workers strike near one of their group homes in Columbia, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
1 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
Emily Strother, a direct support professional, leads a chant as she and other Sunrise Northeast workers strike near one of their group homes in Columbia, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
SEIU 1199 member Helen Gibbons, a direct support professional, keeps the striking union members in time at the Sunrise Northeast offices on Oct. 12, 2021, in Hartford, Connecticut.
2 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
SEIU 1199 member Helen Gibbons, a direct support professional, keeps the striking union members in time at the Sunrise Northeast offices on Oct. 12, 2021, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
Striking SEIU 1199 union members line the street under a "now hiring" sign in front of the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
3 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
Striking SEIU 1199 union members line the street under a "now hiring" sign in front of the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
SEIU 1199 President Rob Baril talks to striking union members at the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
4 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
SEIU 1199 President Rob Baril talks to striking union members at the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
Evelyn Cruz, a direct support professional, leads a chant as she and other Sunrise Northeast workers strike near one of their group homes in Columbia, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
5 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
Evelyn Cruz, a direct support professional, leads a chant as she and other Sunrise Northeast workers strike near one of their group homes in Columbia, Connecticut, on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
SEIU 1199 member Jennifer Brown, a direct support professional, fires up striking union members at the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
6 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
SEIU 1199 member Jennifer Brown, a direct support professional, fires up striking union members at the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public
SEIU 1199 union members strike under a "now hiring" sign in front of the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
7 of 7  — GROUP HOME WORKERS STRIKE
SEIU 1199 union members strike under a "now hiring" sign in front of the Sunrise Northeast offices in Hartford on Oct. 12, 2021.
Joe Amon/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public

Nearly 150 unionized health care workers at Sunrise Northeast group homes went out on strike Tuesday morning.

Union members are seeking a better contract that includes higher wages, improved pension benefits and more affordable health insurance coverage.

“These are workers who, in many cases, have to work two, three, sometimes even four jobs just to pay their bills,” District 1199 SEIU President Rob Baril said. “All I can speak for is that the workers are determined to not be held in poverty any longer.”

Sunrise Northeast operates 28 group homes and programs that serve residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Another 100 group home workers and their employer — Alternative Services Inc. — avoided a strike Tuesday after the union and agency came to a contract agreement Monday.
News
Joe Amon
Joe Amon is a Visuals Editor with Connecticut Public’s Visuals department. As a photojournalist he has covered breaking news, sports and long form storytelling across the United States.
See stories by Joe Amon
Nicole Leonard
Nicole Leonard joined Connecticut Public Radio to cover health care after several years of reporting for newspapers. In her native state of New Jersey, she covered medical and behavioral health care, as well as arts and culture, for The Press of Atlantic City. Her work on stories about domestic violence and childhood food insecurity won awards from the New Jersey Press Association.
See stories by Nicole Leonard

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

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