Workers from five Detroit-area nursing homes took part in a one-day strike against Ciena Healthcare, one of Michigan's largest nursing home operators.
Approximately 300 employees have left their jobs, including certified nursing assistants, housekeeping and maintenance workers, according to SEIU Healthcare Michigan.
The workers were uncontracted for months, said Larry Alkov, the union's chief negotiator.
“For most of these workers, they have been working for almost two years without wage increases,” he said. “And the negotiations have been going on for a long time, and workers say they are essentially sufficient and sufficient. These facilities have an average turnover of 50%, which affects the work, but also affects the care of the residents they care for.”
The union is pushing for an increase in wage measures for certified nursing assistants and seeking an increase in the rate of initiation for others, including cooking and housekeepers. “Other requests include improvements to shift differentials, annual salary increases for all workers, paid sick hours, leave and health insurance,” the union said in a statement.
Facilities participating in the strike include:
Boulevard Temple Care Centre
2567 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208 Notting Hill of West Bloomfield
6535 Drake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan 48322 Qualicare Nursing Home
695 E Grand Blvd, Regency of Detroit, Michigan 48207 chain
2295 e-Burner Highway, Detroit, Michigan 48207 St. Clair Shores regency
22700 Greater Mac Avenue, St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48080
“First and foremost, our affected facilities are preparing necessary and continue to provide quality care to all residents during these strikes by SEIU Healthcare in Michigan,” Ciena Healthcare CEO David Parker said in a press release Tuesday.
He said strikes were “negative” because “no collective bargaining agreements go to a standstill.” And Ciena “provided numerous contract strengthenings, including wage increases for each year and years of contract.”
“Ciena Healthcare's leadership is done by all employees who are members of the collective bargaining unit represented by SEIU Healthcare in Michigan, and we appreciate the quality of care to our residents every day,” Parker said.
The union described Siena's statement as “disinuous at best” and said, “The claims of early negotiations are merely a lie. … The contracts referenced have long expired anywhere from 16 to 4 months ago.
“These are low-wage workers who have to live their checks for checks, do huge amounts of overtime, and sometimes three jobs to pay bills,” Alcoff said. “Siena as one of the largest and most profitable nursing home businesses in the state can afford to do better. They didn't.”
