1199SEIU New Jersey nursing-home caregivers are building impressive daily momentum in their statewide contract campaign, “Voices for Quality Care and Good Jobs.” The first two of the eight informational pickets were held on October 10 and 11at Emerson Convalescent Center in Emerson and The Health Center at Galloway in Galloway.

The next six, to roll out through October 18, will target Wanaque Center, Delair Nursing Home, Barnegat Nursing Home, Manchester Manor, Burnt Tavern Care Center and Clark Nursing Home. The workers are among thousands of certified nursing assistants, housekeepers and dietary aides at more than 30 nursing homes across the state who have been trying for months to negotiate contracts with fair wages, affordable health insurance, a guaranteed pension, and training and education benefits.

Gillian Dookie, a CNA in the pediatric wing at the Wanaque Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, site of informational picketing planned for October 13, is pregnant and expecting next month. “I love the babies I care for,” she said. “Now it’s more important than ever that I have good wages and benefits so I can care for my new baby and make sure he stays healthy.”

“We are simply asking for what we need to take care of ourselves and our families, at the same time we care for our residents,” said Vicki Morgan, a CNA at Barnegat Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, where the workers will be picketing on October 14

Encouragement coming from local communities and elected officials has been overwhelming. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Maywood Mayor Timothy Eustace came to Emerson on October 10 to show their support for the workers. “You are not asking for much,” said Wagner. “You work hard giving care to the people who need it most. Most certainly you deserve to be able to take care of your own families,” Wagner said.

“The workers at Emerson have been in and out of 13 months of negotiations,” said Milly Silva, 1199SEIU Executive Vice President for New Jersey. “They are some of the lowest-paid wage-earners in New Jersey, even though they do self-sacrificing work. It’s time to reach a contract settlement so they can have stability while raising their families and better contribute to their communities and the economy.”