Contact: Jen Schneider, 646-506-5417
Connecticut Nursing Home Workers Vote to Strike in Support of a Fair Wage
Workers in 20 cities and towns across Connecticut send strike notices to employers.
SEIU 1199 NE Nursing home workers announced on Twitter @SEIU1199_NE this morning that they have voted to strike for better wages. Strike notices have been delivered to 27 nursing home facilities in Connecticut.
Contracts at three large nursing home chains expired in March for 1199 nursing home workers. Strike notices have been sent to Paradigm, Genesis and iCare nursing homes. The strike notice informed employers at the three chains that over 3,500 workers will begin striking on April 24, 2015.
Nursing home workers in Connecticut are given one of the most important jobs a person can have: caring for our loved ones. Every single day they provide essential services for the elderly and the sick, including bathing, feeding and providing emotional support and companionship.
The average age of an 1199 nursing home worker is 44 years old. These workers are trying to support themselves and their families. Despite an average of ten years of experience over 50% of nursing home workers, excluding LPNs and RNs, make less than $15 an hour.
Workers had adopted the Fight for $15 in statewide negotiations in January, demanding a $15 an hour minimum wage.
“It’s time for all of us to stand together and demand higher wages to support our families and our communities,” said Nicole Jeffries a Certified Nursing Assistant from Hartford. “My passion is caring for others but at the end of a long day caring for others I come home and don’t know if my lights are going to be turned off because I can’t pay my bill.”
Marilyn Morales has thirteen years of experience working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in hospitals and nursing homes yet only earns $12.83 an hour. Marilyn works at St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull. “We work hard to care for our seniors and people’s loved ones, but too often, we are not paid enough to provide basic needs like food, clothing and rent for our own families,” Marilyn said. “We can’t survive on these low-wages and we are going to fight for a fair wage “
Strike notices were sent to nursing homes in the following cities/towns:
BLOOMFIELD, COLCHESTER, DANIELSON, EAST WINDSOR, FARMINGTON, GLASTONBURY, HAMDEN, HARTFORD, MADISON, MANCHESTER, MERIDEN, NEW HAVEN, NORWICH, PROSPECT, SIMSBURY, STAMFORD, TORRINGTON, TRUMBULL, WATERBURY, WINDSOR.
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