SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Roughly 24,000 workers who care for disabled residents in their homes would make at least $15 an hour in legislation headed to the governor.
The Illinois House approved the plan 67-44 Wednesday. The workers unionized by SEIU Healthcare Illinois may continue negotiating for higher wages.
Rep. Sonya Harper says the employees get $13 an hour doing physically taxing and often unpleasant work. She says allowing disabled residents to stay at home saves the state money in nursing home costs.
The workers have been making noise lately because Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration imposed a limit on overtime pay beginning May 1. The workers and their union insist the job requires more flexibility.
A Rauner spokeswoman did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
