Turco Supports Call For Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights

Press release from State Rep. Turco:

July 14, 2020

Following a press conference at the State Capitol last week, State Representative Gary Turco (D-Newington) announced his support for the creation of a Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights.

“Long-term care workers are essential workers, and it's our responsibility to protect them and ensure that they are fairly compensated for their work,” Turco said. “I stand with SEIU District 1199 New England and SEIU - Connecticut State Council's efforts to pass a Long-Term Care Workers' Bill of Rights.”

The Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights would include the following protections:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all who need it.
• Rewarding the risk workers take by paying them at least $20 an hour.
• Ensuring that workers receive the care that they need including health insurance, childcare, and paid sick leave.
• Increasing Medicaid funding and holding corporations accountable for meeting their responsibilities.

Turco and other supporters of these protections note that nursing home workers, home care workers, group home workers, and other caregivers who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis have often been sent into high-risk environments without proper safeguards and equipment. According to SEIU District 1199 New England, thousands of nursing home residents and dozens of care workers have lost their lives during the current pandemic.
Turco, currently serving in his first term, has quickly distinguished himself as a champion of workers’ rights. In addition to supporting the creation of the Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights, Turco has established himself as a champion of working families by sponsoring legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour and to establish Connecticut’s first paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

The Long-Term Care Workers’ Bill of Rights is currently under consideration for a fall special session of the legislature or could be proposed as part of the 2021 session.

“Long-term care workers in Newington and across Connecticut have been heroes throughout this unprecedented health crisis,” Turco said. “It is past time that we recognize the vital role they play in keeping our loved ones safe and I look forward to formally creating these badly-needed protections.”

This press release was produced by State Rep. Turco. The views expressed here are the author's own.