{"id":62380,"date":"2026-07-30T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=actions&p=62380"},"modified":"2026-08-27T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T19:34:55","slug":"we-are-the-direct-care-union","status":"publish","type":"actions","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/actions\/campaign\/we-are-the-direct-care-union\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are the Direct Care Union"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Direct Care Professionals deserve better<\/em><\/mark>.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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We are a community of Direct Care Professionals across New York who are starting a union to fight for fair minimum staffing levels, balanced workloads, better wages and benefits, and respect for our essential role in taking care of our communities. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In this fight, we have the support of UFCW Local 888, the union for direct care & healthcare workers. UFCW Local 888 represents care facilities across the Northeast, and we\u2019re so excited to start this new chapter with their support. Union organizers from Local 888 are helping us talk with more and more of our coworkers every day about what we need to change at direct care providers across New York. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Want to learn more? Fill out the form below<\/a><\/strong> to get connected with us and find out how we\u2019re ushering in a new era at our organization with our union. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Direct Care Union Updates<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Over 450 Direct Care Professionals in Florida Vote to Unionize<\/strong> | August 6th, 2026<\/strong>
Over 450 nursing aides, pharmacy techs, housekeepers, and dietary staff recently unionized in Florida. These caregivers work at multiple facilities across the state: Lakeland Regional Health, Aviata Health Group, Blue Circle Healthcare, and Award Care.

Workers shared that they\u2019re unionizing to fight for higher pay, stronger benefits, and fair treatment across the board. This victory shows the power that care professionals can build by talking to their peers about the issues facing their workplace and their entire industry.

Some of these caretakers hadn\u2019t seen a raise in years, and they were thrilled to hear that starting a union would give them the opportunity to push for more. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AHRC Union Members in NY Continue Bargaining First Contract<\/strong> | July 21st, 2026 <\/strong>
This summer, the bargaining committee for the union workers at AHRC Nassau has continued to meet with the company and get closer to finalizing a first contract. Workers sat down with company leadership on July 22, August 4th, and August 12th, standing up for guaranteed raises which help them make ends meet during a turbulent period for the direct care industry.

The DSPs at AHRC Nassau are staying strong with the support of UFCW Local 888 as they fight to make sure they earn what they deserve for their essential work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Union Workers meet with NY State Reps to demand immediate investment in Direct Support Staff<\/strong> | March 4th, 2026<\/strong>
Today, leaders from UFCW Local 888 joined more than 30 union workers and representatives at the State Capitol in Albany to demand greater investment in the direct care professionals who keep New York\u2019s communities healthy.

Over the course of the day, these workers attended 21 meetings with state representatives to speak out on behalf of caretakers and support staff across New York who\u2019ve been struggling with low pay and severe understaffing due to a recruiting and retention crisis.

During their meetings, this union coalition advocated for stronger cost-of-living adjustments via the COLA system, along with a greater overall investment in wage increases for direct care professionals through new Article VII language in the state budget.

Going directly to the lawmakers who influence the Direct Care industry empowers workers to move the needle for all of their peers, regardless of whether they have a union at their job. Read more about the full scope of UFCW Local 888\u2019s recent advocacy here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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