Oregon Public Broadcasting

The union representing some 10,000 home care workers says it has reached a tentative deal with state negotiators. April Baer reports.

The negotiating process for SEIU's home care workers ended after eight months of talks.

These workers are the people who change bedpans, and help seniors and people with disabilities with the tasks of daily living. Some are neighbors and relatives of the people they care for.

Since the state was empowered by voters to oversee the quality of their work, the state bargains with them, even though some are privately employed.

Beverly Mackey chaired the bargaining committee. She works for a homecare service in Lincoln City.

Beverly Mackey "We ended up understanding there would be no pay raise. We ended up with actually a wage freeze. The thing that was critical, our members sent us with marching orders to please keep our health care."

Mackey says that coverage was retained, along with four days a year paid time off.

Members will now vote on the contract, some by mail, and some in regional meetings.

The Oregon Home Care Commission will take a briefing on the deal at its meeting this week.