CT nursing home workers protest ahead of strike
HARTFORD — Amid looming strikes, hundreds of nursing home workers will rally outside the governor’s mansion Saturday afternoon in a show of displeasure over stalled contract negotiations.
Pedro Zayas, communications director for SEIU District 1199 New England, said over 200 nursing home employees are expected to join members of Recovery For All Coalition, an organization of labor and faith organizations that has been pressing state officials for more tax relief for the poor and greater state spending on health care, social services and communities in need, in protest Saturday.
The group is gathering near Elizabeth Park. From there, they plan to march to Gov. Ned Lamont’s nearby residence, where they will hold a rally.
The protest comes a day after SEIU District 1199 New England, the state’s largest health care workers’ union, warned 33 nursing homes that about 3,400 of its members are prepared to walk off the job on May 14 if their contract demands aren’t met.
The union is seeking incremental wage increases to $20 an hour by 2023 for CNAs and $30 an hour or LPNs and nurses, affordable health care, affordable retirement plans, access to high-quality PPE and safe staffing levels.
Union representatives say members at 51 nursing homes in Connecticut have been working under contracts that expired March 15. And between now and early 2022, that could grow to 63 facilities, involving roughly 4,500 workers.
“Connecticut’s long-term care system relies on poverty wages. By going on strike, we are telling nursing home operators and the state of Connecticut that we are not willing to carry the yoke of poverty any longer,” said Rob Baril, president of District 1199 New England, SEIU said in a statement Friday. “It’s time for nursing home bosses and state leaders to pay these workers what they deserve. The majority-women workforce that provides care in these nursing homes and the people who depend on their services are not expecting any less.”
The strike notices were served on facilities owned by RegalCare, Genesis HealthCare, Autumn Lake Healthcare and iCare Management chains Friday.
A strike notice does not guarantee employees will walk off the job on May 14. And if there is a work stoppage, it could be indefinite — or it could be a fixed period, such as one or two days.