Scabs Out! Nursing Home Workers Win New Contract After One Year on the Picket Line (+ back pay)

[Omaha Steve]

http://homefront.homestead.com/ParkPlaceStrike.html

All 1199 members who struck will return to former positions and hours on 5/16

New 3-year contracts include raises and benefit improvements

Fired and suspended workers named in complaint return with clean records

Company settles Labor Board trial: $545,000 in payments to union members

April 15, 2010 - May 16, 2011
After one year and one month, 350 nursing home workers at four Spectrum Health Care facilities won a new 3-year contract and settled their Labor Board trial. Despite being "permanently replaced," all of the District 1199/SEIU workers returned on Monday, May 16 to their old jobs.



“They told us we were all permanently replaced and we’d never be back,” said Valrey Johnson, a cook who had worked at the Park Place Health Center in Hartford for 19 years before the strike began on April 15, 2010. “Yet on May 16th we’ll return to our positions, caring for the residents we’ve missed so much, with strength and unity in our hearts.”

“That alone is a victory,” said LPN Patty Pickus, who has been caring for the Center’s residents since 1989. “But we’re also returning with new contracts and with justice for our co-workers who were named in the Labor Board’s complaint because Spectrum fired them.”

By an overwhelming margin of 189 to 6, workers voted to approve the new three-year contracts and return to work on May 16th. Included in the settlement is a new contract for Torrington Health Center, where workers’ contract only expired this past March.

District 1199 President Carmen Boudier told the assembled workers and supporters at a press conference on Thursday, May 12th that she was immensely proud of their persistence and solidarity. “In the midst of a terrible economy and in the face of persistent threats from your employer that you would lose your jobs permanently, you had the courage to stand up for yourselves and by so doing, for higher standards for all nursing home workers and residents.”

Summing up the sentiments of her co-workers, Certified Nursing Assistant April Grey, who is going back to her job caring for residents at Laurel Hill, said, “This was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do – and the most worthwhile. We fought for ourselves and our families, but we fought just as hard for our residents and our communities, and for justice. We persisted against all odds - and we won!”

More photos at above link.

News article with details here : http://peoplesworld.org/we-did-it-nursing-home-workers-win-13-month-strike

[Oceansaway]

1. WooooHooooo !!

[barbtries]

2. this makes me so happy

i don't think i thought i'd ever see a happy ending to a labor dispute again in my lifetime. short of a general strike that is.

i had to search a bit to learn that this is in Hartford CT.

[Overseas]

3. Congratulations!

[HelenWheels]

4. Solidarity

Shows what good can happen when people band together, like those in a union.

[iemitsu]

5. yay.

way too few of these victories. hope to see more in the near future.

[frebrd]

6. K&R!

:toast:

[Snoutport]

7. Bravo and a kick

[Zorra]

8. Yay! That's great!

[Rochester]

9. Solidarity Forever!

[madokie]

10. Kick and rec

You and Dain Bamaged are labors best friend here on this board. I told him so earlier this morning and now I'm telling you the same. Keep up the good work Steve. I hope you heal soon.
Peace and have a good day