As of October 1, more than 3,000 nursing home employees across Oregon are working under expired contracts.
Workers at Meadow Park Care in St Helens were the first to approve the strike, with 98% supporting it. Other nursing and assisted living facilities represented by SEIU Local 503 may follow suit this month. Staffing issues are an important topic in contract negotiations, as are pay and safety issues.
“Our residents have the right to live their lives with dignity. If there aren't enough of us available to answer the call signal when a resident needs us right away, that means going to the bathroom.” “It can be the difference between waiting too long to get help and making a mess in the bathroom yourself.” Meadow Park Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Melissa Williams said. Williams was one of several workers who spoke at the union's Oct. 1 press conference.
“We will go on strike if necessary to protect the safety of our residents and let management know we are serious about resolving this contract,” said Meadow Park CNA Jessica Dupuis. Ta.
Meadow Park is the only care home in St Helens and typically has around 45 residents. No date has been set for the strike, but the 46 CNAs, CMAs, kitchen and domestic workers could go on strike as early as the end of the month after giving the legally required 10 days' notice.
Melissa Unger, executive director of SEIU Local 503, said workers at other facilities could take action within the next month because they won't receive raises that would normally come on Oct. 1 under union contracts. He said there is. Starting wages for CNAs in facilities can be as low as $21 an hour.
Local 503 represents nursing home workers working without a contract at more than 50 facilities in Oregon, including 20 Avamere facilities. 17 prestige care facilities; Multiple Avalon, Sapphire, and EmpRes locations. and Meadow Park.
“It's becoming increasingly difficult to cover everyday living expenses on this wage,” said Tony Cortez, who works at Sapphire Nursing Home in Portland.
