SEIU 775 Caregivers,
In September, we held our 2025 Convention and Leadership Conference where more than 750 caregivers from Washington, Montana, and Alaska came together to celebrate the work we’ve done, the fights we fought, the wins we’ve won, and plan for our future as a Union. One of my highlights from this year’s Convention and Leadership Conference was marching to the Amazon Spheres in Seattle with all of our attendees, where we shut down the streets and rallied to tell Jeff Bezos and Amazon that they may be able to buy their way into politics, but working people hold the power.
If you attended our Convention and Leadership Conference, you heard me say that at a time where workers are facing unprecedented attacks, we have two goals: we have to fight harder to win for our members, and we have to be on the frontlines fighting against this rigged system. I’m proud to say that we’ve continued to hold the line on both of these fronts, and we’ve already seen some big wins.
The recent election was a very good night for our endorsed candidates in Washington. Every single one of our endorsed candidates – with the exception of one – won their races. Voters turned out in big numbers and resoundingly said that we want WA Cares funding to be solid and sustainable. All across the country the story was the same. Working people stood tall, used our voices, and voted to put good people in office to fight alongside us.
This is big news for the upcoming legislative sessions. We’ve got tough fights ahead in Olympia and Juneau. We will have to fight hard to prevent life-threatening cuts to long-term care, healthcare, food assistance, and other critical services. It won’t be easy, but we’ve defied the odds before, and I know we can do it again.
It’s no secret that times are tough, and these are dark days. But it’s in the dark that we begin to see sparks of hope. It’s hopeful that folks are turning out in record numbers to protest, to stand up for our democracy, and to vote. It’s hopeful that pro-labor candidates across the country won on election day. It’s hopeful that at a time when we’re facing the most anti-Union administration in our generation, our Union is growing faster and fighting harder. There is hope everywhere – and we are going to take that hope, hold it close, and we are going to fight.
In Solidarity,
Sterling Harders
SEIU 775 President
Connecting with Caregivers across Alaska
I’ve been a paid caregiver for 20 years, and I’ve been to SEIU 775’s Alaska Party in the Park every year since they started. Caregiving can be an isolating job, and SEIU 775’s Party in the Park is a fun event we hold every year in Anchorage for Alaska caregivers to have fun, eat good food, and connect with fellow caregivers. Even though it rained, the energy was big. Everybody was motivated and ready to make change happen together.
As we see increasing attacks on our healthcare system, it’s more important than ever that we continue to come together as a community. It’s events like this that made our Union the powerful force it is now – it all starts by getting together and connecting as caregivers. I can tell Alaska is fired up to continue to fight for our families, our fellow caregivers, and the people we care for.
– Rose Childs, caregiver, Anchorage, AK
Heading into Bargaining and Beyond
I’ve been a caregiver for nearly 10 years, and I’m so glad I’m part of our Union fighting for better contracts. When I attended Montana Agency Advocate Day, it was such a great experience to connect with other caregivers and hear their unique stories. As I head into bargaining my second contract alongside my fellow caregivers, it was so helpful to come together to understand all the issues Montana caregivers face and how we want to see our workplaces improve. I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight for better pay and benefits, and I’m prepared to show up to the bargaining table united as a part of our Union bargaining team.
But it extends past just this contract. Rural areas like Montana are being hit hard by attacks on Medicaid and working people, which is why it’s so important to be able to come together as a community and as a Union. That’s what makes us stronger.
– Mona Degele, Agency caregiver, Billings, MT
Fueling up for the Fight Ahead
In 2025, more than 300 caregivers, clients, and family members attended 11 SEIU 775 summer BBQs across Washington state. I’ve gone the last three years, and it’s always a good time to eat good food and connect with fellow caregivers. This was my first time participating in putting the thing together and volunteering at the check-in table, I got to greet every caregiver at the Tacoma BBQ.
I volunteered for this event because I think it’s important to show caregivers that we are not alone. Myself, my daughter, and my family are all on Medicaid and food stamps right now. With all the recent attacks on people like us, we’re scared about how we’re going to pay our bills and have money left for medications, food, and gas. It’s a scary time for a lot of us, but that’s why it’s so important to come together joyfully with our community of caregivers. The BBQ showed me that we will be showing up strong in Olympia for legislative session – and we’ll never stop fighting for our community.
– Barbara Dutt, Independent Provider, Tacoma, WA
