CBA Basics
What is SEIU 775's role for home care workers under Article 1 — one word?
Representative (sole and exclusive bargaining representative)
Starting July 1, 2026, how many miles per month per consumer can a caregiver be reimbursed for driving, up from the previous cap?
130 miles per month (up from 110)
What is the first step of the CDWA grievance process, where a Union rep confers informally with an Employer rep?
Informal Resolution (Step 1)
How many calendar days does the Union have to initiate informal resolution from the date of the alleged violation?
45 calendar days
What specifically makes a training-related issue grievable under Article 15?
Failure to pay workers at their regular rate for required or continuing education training
If no successor agreement is reached by June 30, 2027, for how long can the current CBA remain in effect under Article 25?
Up to one additional year
What is the maximum combined differential — certification plus advanced training plus AHCAS — a caregiver (IP) can stack above their base wage?
$1.25 per hour
$0.25 (certification) + $0.25 (advanced training) + $0.75 (AHCAS) = $1.25/hr
At which step must the grievance be submitted in writing, including facts, date of incident, articles violated, and remedy requested?
The Written Grievance (Step 2)
What should a rep NEVER do when talking to a member about a potential contract violation?
Promise or confirm that a grievance will be filed
Who evaluates a caregiver's damages documentation before it's sent to CDWA for late payment claims?
The Union
What are the two core qualities that make a CBA different from an informal company policy?
It's negotiated (agreed by both Union and Employer) and legally binding (contractually enforceable by either party)
What is the maximum PTO accrual cap under Article 11?
140 hours
What optional third step lets either party bring in a neutral third party to help resolve the dispute before arbitration?
Mediation (Step 3)
If a case is older than how many months with no updates, should reps create a brand-new case rather than continue the old one?
6 months
Which Article requires the Employer to follow a coach, written warning, final warning, then termination sequence?
Article 31 (Progressive Discipline)
By what date must successor negotiations for the next CBA begin?
October 15, 2026
The Labor Rate covers more than just the caregiver's wage. What else does it fund, according to the CBA?
Employer taxes, workers' comp, health benefits, and SRT/training/admin (everything CDWA spends to employ the caregiver)
What is the final and binding step of the grievance process, decided by a mutually selected neutral?
Arbitration (Step 4)
What is the correct phrase a rep should use instead, when escalating a potential grievance to a member?
"I'll escalate this for further review and our team will follow up."
What is the key difference between a 'gripe' and a 'grievance'?
A gripe feels unfair but does not violate the CBA; a grievance is an actual violation of the CBA, a policy, or the law
What is the Parity Law, and how does it connect to the CDWA/SEIU 775 CBA?
A WA State law requiring Agency Providers (APs) to receive wages/benefits comparable to IPs — when SEIU 775 negotiates IP wage increases, AP wages must rise too, to stay "at parity"
If CDWA discovers a caregiver was overpaid, within how many days must they notify the employee for the overpayment to be collectible?
90 days
Which party (in SEIU 775) is the only one authorized to make the final call on whether a written grievance actually gets filed?
CBER
If the issue isn't resolved informally, how many additional days does the Union have to submit a written grievance?
45 more calendar days
Under what condition does a denied PTO claim become grievable under Article 11?
When PTO is improperly denied — PTO accrues 1 hr per 23 hrs worked, capped at 140 hours, and must be cashed out on termination