Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Members of 1199SEIU representing nursing home workers for Catholic Health say an information picket has helped lead to a return to the bargaining table. Talks resume October 2nd.
"We had members come over from both facilities, the Mcauley Residence and St. Catharines on Main Street in front of Sisters Hospital also want to make sure that it is known that this was an informational picket, not a strike. There was no work stoppage. Members stopped out briefly on their breaks before or after shifts. They were made sure to be off the clock," says Shemeka Burnette-Mathews of 1199SEIU.
She says workers are concerned about quality of care for the residents, continuity of care, and safe staffing. "Most recently, Catholic Health has had an increasing number of vacancies. We believe that to be due to the low wages and lack of benefits in comparison to the surrounding nursing homes. So Catholic Health utilizes a float pool, and this is something like an agency, but it is a Catholic Health one. And this is how they're filling these shortages within the facilities. And these are people that the residents aren't used to seeing every day. I mean, these residents live in these facilities, so it's so important that they see the full-time staff, the members who take care of them regularly,," says Burnette-Mathews. She adds Catholic Health offers $11 an hour more to pool workers than regular staff.
The union says childcare benefits has become another issue. "Childcare has become an extreme barrier, preventing them from getting to and from work timely because lack of resources. And with the wages that they currently have, they're struggling between either going to work and working full time, and having to pay for daycare or staying home to take care of their children," says Burnette-Mathews.
She says while an informational picket could happen again, a strike is not on the horizon. "We haven't discussed striking as of yet, but if the members do not see an end in sight for the staffing under the grid or no assistance with the child care fund, which a benefit Catholic Health does not currently offer, that could be the next steps," says Burnette-Mathews.
The workers have not had a contract since July 30th.
A call to Catholic Health for comment was not returned.
Nursing home workers concerned about continuity of care, childcare benefits
Nursing home workers concerned about continuity of care, childcare benefits
