Lamont sweetens offer in effort to prevent strike at nursing homes in Connecticut. Deal promises higher wages for low-paid workers.

Hoping to forestall a potentially devastating strike at dozens of Connecticut nursing homes, Gov. Ned Lamont presented a new offer that contains a higher wage increases to the low-paid workforce.

The proposal put forth by the governor Thursday is part of a four-year package that would increase funding to the nursing home industry by $47.3 million in fiscal 2022 and $121.1 million in fiscal 2023. All of the money would be directed toward wage increases, which would total 4.5% in 2022 and 6.2% the following year.

That’s a bigger increase than the 4.5% percent over each of two years that Lamont offered Monday, as part of what his aides called their “best and final offer” to stave off the strike.

It is unclear whether the union, SEIU 1199 of New England, will accept the latest offer. The union had been pressing for an agreement that lasts longer than two years.

The union is also seeking a commitment for a “long term care workers’ bill of rights,’' that includes raising all wages to a minimum of $20 an hour.

The governor’s latest proposal does not meet that standard.

More than 3,000 unionized healthcare workers at 26 skilled nursing facilities will strike this Friday if they cannot reach an agreement on wages and staffing levels with the owners of the facilities. Additional strikes are planned for May 28 at 13 other nursing homes.

The showdown pits an industry devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic against the low-wage employees that have had to provide care as the virus raced through their workplace.

With a deadline of 6 a.m. Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont is urging the union and the nursing home owners to return to formal bargaining so a strike can be averted.

The state is not a direct party to the negotiations but it licenses skilled nursing facilities, most of which receive hundreds of millions of dollars in funding primarily through the federal Medicaid program.

The nursing home workforce consists of dietary aides, housekeepers, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The bulk of the workers are certified nursing assistants, many of whom earn $12-$15 an hour.

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