Detroit (WXYZ) – Five workers at the Ciena Healthcare Nursing Home facility are holding a one-day strike today (Tuesday, May 20th) and are seeking better pay and profits from their employers.
This comes after Ciena, represented by SEIU Health Care Michigan, is negotiating a new contract and workers' representatives say they “hope to reach an agreement with the frontline caregiver to respect Ciena's ongoing malicious negotiations.”
Video of workers continuing to strike from Chopper 7 from our morning show
“We deserve to be treated with respect”: More than 300 workers are under attack at nursing homes in the Detroit area
More than 300 nursing home workers are on strike at nursing homes in the Detroit area
Chopper 7 shows dozens of nursing home workers on strike
Workers are under attack at the facility below as of 6am.
Boulevard Temple Care Center (Detroit) West Bloomfield Cromer Nursing Facilities Notting Hill (Detroit) St. Clair Shores Chain (Detroit) Regency Regency
It is said that a series of supporters will join the Picket Line if the following days continue.
Boulevard Temple Care Centre
Rep. Tonya Meyers Phillips – 7:00 Amcity Council Chairman Mary Sheffield – 3:00 PM
Noah Arbitration Councillor – 7:00 Amqualicare Nursing Home
Rep. Donnavan McKinney – 7:30 amcity Council Chairman Mary Sheffield – 3:30pm Chain Regency
Senator Stephanie Chan – 7:00 Amcity Council President Mary Sheffield – 4pm St. Clair Shores
Macomb County Commissioner Sarah Lucid – Time TBD
Workers are seeking an increase in the wage scale of competency-rated nurse assistants (CENAs) and an increase in the initiation rate of Ciena workers in housekeeping, dieting, activities, cooking and maintenance. Other demands include shift differences, annual salary increases for all workers, paid sick hours, holidays and health insurance. Workers have been working for months without a contract, with some working without a contract since January 2024.
“We will devote our time to caring for our residents, but Siena will let us jump over the hoops to take care of us,” Senna Tikesha Williams said in a statement. “We don't have enough supplies and we always have short staff. It takes a big blow to us. To my family – for my granddaughter, deserves to be treated with respect, whatever our position is.”
He also asked Ciena Healthcare for a statement. Here's the full statement from CEO David Parker:
“Ciena Healthcare was notified on May 20, 2025 that members of SEIU Healthcare in Michigan will be attacked 24 hours a day at five nursing facilities in southeastern Michigan, each of which is a clear agreement that is not related separately.
First and foremost, our affected facilities provide the necessary preparation and care for all residents on any of these planned strikes by SEIU Healthcare in Michigan. A planned strike at this point by SEIU Healthcare in Michigan is not necessary given that (i) any of the collective bargaining agreements are of course. (ii) The two facilities are in the early stages of negotiation. At the negotiation table, employers have provided numerous contract enhancements, including annual wage increases for each year and years of contract. Simply put, the planned strike has diverted attention from negotiations to resolve the remaining few issues in each contract, and we look forward to working with the union to obtain a favorable contract for our employees.
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 provision of quality care to our residents every day. ”
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