Healthcare workers rally in Missoula to push negotiations forward

Tasha Anderson cares for elderly clients in Superior and said she hasn't gotten a raise from her employer in over five years.

"The only raise that we got was because Medicaid or the VA would give the raise, not within the office," she said.

She said her current wage is "not at all" enough for her to afford housing.

"I have been a caregiver for about 24 years, and I'm here today to talk about the struggle we've had as caregivers since forming a union with SEIU 775 and trying to bargain our first contract with Always Caring Montana," she said. "I'm a caregiver because I have a big heart. Although it's not the easiest job in the world, others may not have family or loved ones left to care for them and I want to help those vulnerable that need care."

She said she's been with the company for seven years and noticed a variety of issues.

"The company seems unconcerned with training and making sure we as caregivers can do every task of caring for folks in they way they need to and deserve," she said. "There's not even a training for something as simple as a colostomy bag. We aren't even compensated for the mileage to and from taking our clients to their appointments and if they need groceries, etc."

She said there's poor communication from the company about benefits offered to workers, such as health insurance.

"When my paychecks reflected the wrong pay rate, nobody in payroll will help me figure out how to fix the issue," she said. "On top of all this, we are paid less than other union home care agencies in Montana."

For five months since the majority of the company's 230 Montana workers voted to unionize, discussions have gone nowhere, she said.

"From the start, the employer has made the bargaining process much more difficult than it needs to be and has been sitting on a wage proposal for us for five months now," she said. "This is stalling on real issues, all while the cost of living is continuing to increase."

She and her coworkers have tried to explain the difficulty of going without pay raises.

"(Those explanations) are met with derision, and you hire a rich Beverly Hills lawyer," she said.

Montana Sen. Ellie Boldman, a Democrat from Missoula, was there to speak in support of the workers.

"It's about respect," she said. "For five months, caregivers have been asking for a real conversation about wages and benefits. Five months. That's longer than a Montana legislative session at the Capitol, and somehow it's even less productive."

She said that in the last session, the Legislature increased reimbursement rates for caregivers.

"Because we wanted those public dollars to help the people doing the work, not to disappear in corporate profits, while CEOs make millions, and as you heard, expensive Beverly Hills lawyers are hired to fight out Montana workers who are just asking for a fair contract," Boldman said.

A spokesperson for the company sent the Missoulian a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

"All Ways Caring values its dedicated employees who provide high-quality, compassionate care to Montana families including, in some cases, their own loved ones," said Leigh White, vice president of communications and public relations for BrightSpring Health Services. "Our labor negotiations are ongoing and we have participated in several productive bargaining sessions."