NBC Right Now | March 26, 2026
WASHINGTON — Certified nursing assistants at six nursing homes across Washington are voting on a tentative contract agreement that would bring wage increases between 8% and 11% over two years, according to a press release from SEIU 775.
The agreement was negotiated between SEIU 775 and PACs, a corporation that operates the facilities. The union says the negotiations lasted nearly a year.
The facilities included in the agreement are as follows:
Sunnyside Healthcare Center in Sunnyside.
Mountain View Post Acute in Ellensburg.
Linden Post Acute in Toppenish.
Colonial Vista Post Acute in Wenatchee.
LaCamas Creek Post Acute in Camas.
Richland Post Acute in Richland.
Union members are voting on the contract from Thursday, March 26 through Monday, March 30. If approved, the wage increases would take effect over the life of the two-year agreement, with exact amounts varying by location and job classification.
Angel Cabrera, a certified nursing assistant at Sunnyside Healthcare Center, said the wage increase would help with staff retention.
“The cost of living keeps going up. But the wage scale hasn’t kept up,” Cabrera said. “Winning fair pay helps us keep and recruit skilled staff and that benefits all of us — staff and residents alike.”
Cabrera said higher wages could benefit local economies.
“When we make livable wages, that money circulates in our local community, supporting our area small businesses and families,” he said.
Anadelia Flores, who works at Richland Post Acute, said the work is demanding.
“We are caring for residents with high needs, often on a skeleton crew of staff,” Flores said. “Our work is essential and we deserve to be treated that way.”
Natacia Louvier, a certified nursing assistant at Lacamas Post Acute in Camas, said the union helped in negotiations.
“Because of our union, we were able to leverage our collective power to win the fair wages and respect we deserve,” Louvier said. “Living wages mean better staffing and increase our ability to provide quality care and protection for the residents we love.”
Pamela Stillwagon, who works at Mountain View Post-Acute in Ellensburg, said consistent staffing matters to residents.
“Some of our residents don’t get visitors, so staff who are there consistently and build bonds of trust are so important to their wellbeing,” Stillwagon said.
The union says the wage increases are intended to address turnover and staffing levels at the nursing homes.
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