For Immediate Release: November 29, 2017

Contact: Mindy Berman | 518. 229.0486
                Tanya Grant, 518.390.3568

Nursing home workers express deep concern that severe short staffing at the facility may be putting resident care at risk

WHAT: INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT FORT HUDSON NURSING HOME

WHO: 1199SEIU HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND LABOR ALLIES

WHERE: 319 UPPER BROADWAY, FORT EDWARD

WHEN: TODAY! WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017
1:00 p.m. – 3: p.m.

INTERVIEWS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SITE

Over 170 healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, currently involved in contract negotiations at Fort Hudson Nursing Home, are holding an informational picket tomorrow to bring public awareness to staffing problems at the facility, which they say is having an impact on care.

Background: The workers at Fort Hudson Nursing Home dedicate their lives to the care and comfort of the nursing home’s ill, injured, frail and elderly residents, under challenging conditions. Troubled by short-staffing caused by management’s policies and procedures, they have brought their concerns to the administration. Frustrated that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears, the workers voted to hold a second informational picket to bring attention to the critical situation; they picketed earlier in October.

“Without the workers, there would be no nursing home,” said Tammy Newton, C.N.A. There would be a facility with beds. It is not management, it is not the CEO, who provides the care to your loved ones. It is us. We are the backbone of the nursing home, and we are asking for that to be acknowledged. We can’t go on like this. It is not good for anyone.”

Lack of Continuity of Care: A revolving door of workers has created a lack of continuity of care for residents. With less than optimal wages to get by, expensive health benefits and the unrelenting practice of mandating staff to work more than their scheduled hours, it is difficult to retain even the most dedicated caregivers. After all, every nursing home worker deserves to be able to take care of their own families at the same time they care for others. Many feel that their professional licenses could be at risk when the staffing situation is at its worst.

“Our residents depend on us to give them the care that they deserve. When we are understaffed and forced to work extra shifts people leave to go work somewhere else and the residents suffer. Fort Hudson management needs to do the right thing for the workers so that we can stay here and care for the residents we love,”said June Ragnacci, LPN.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.