Groden Center caregivers of children with autism vote for a 3-day strike starting September 11
Low wages are driving a staffing shortage that impacts safety and education...
A previous version of this story had the wrong photo attached. I regret the mistake.
From an SEIU 1199 press release:
Frontline caregivers at Groden Center who provide essential services for children with autism have voted for a three day strike starting Wednesday, September 11, should management fail to come to a contract agreement that encourages wage boosts, recruitment, retention, and safer practices for students.
“We love the work we do but it is not an easy job. Many Groden students are non-verbal with behavioral, emotional, physical, or cognitive challenges. To get the education they deserve, our kids need experienced staff trained to respond to their needs. But it is very difficult to attract and retain staff with the low wages we currently earn,” said Richard Jenkins, a Behavioral Specialist Coordinator.
Every day, the SEIU 1199NE members who work at the Groden Center offer a wide range of support and educational benefits to Rhode Island children with autism, providing a unique and valuable service in highly specialized educational settings. Groden students have a variety of special needs with some requiring one to one care. Yet staff often work so short they are responsible for more students than they can safely monitor. Low wages are driving the staffing shortage; the starting wage for behavioral specialists is just $18 an hour, just under $35,000 a year. Many Groden employees have to work multiple jobs to earn enough to take care of their families.
“We have been negotiating in good faith for months because we want to reach an agreement that ultimately improves the quality of education and support we give our kids. None of us want to strike but we need management to know the status quo is not working for anyone. There is still time for them to do the right thing, return to negotiations, and work with us to settle a contract that helps us ramp up staffing and pays us enough to take care of our families," said Katherine Siguenza, a Behavioral Specialist Coordinator, who has worked at Groden for 12 and a half years.
36 Behavioral Specialists, who are members of SEIU 1199NE, have been negotiating a new contract since June 2024. They are hopeful to continue contract negotiations before September 11th to settle a fair contract and avert the strike.
