On Tuesday, March 18, 205 caregivers at Tallwoods Care Center in Bayville won a major victory when they voted to join with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest and fastest growing union of healthcare workers in New Jersey and nationwide. These workers persevered despite an aggressive anti-union campaign from management.
Caregivers were highly motivated to form a union so that they can achieve better working conditions that will allow them to provide the best quality of care to their residents. Among the issues they cited at the facility were poor staffing ratios among caregivers, low workplace morale, a lack of respect from management, and unaffordable healthcare benefits for themselves and their families. Now that they have formed their union, they plan to fight to make Tallwoods a positive environment for all.
“I voted to form a union with my co-workers because I want my residents to have the best care that they can,” said Michelle Valentino, a licensed practical nurse at Tallwoods. “We need to be able to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, and for management to provide us with better staffing and job security.”
“This is a terrific victory for caregivers, nursing homes residents, and their families," said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "With a union voice, healthcare workers have the opportunity to advocate for higher standards of care for their patients and job improvements that lead to the retention of qualified, experienced staff. We are so proud to welcome into our union family the dedicated caregivers at Tallwoods Care Center, and we look forward to winning a contract that gives them the rights and respect they deserve."
Caregivers were highly motivated to form a union so that they can achieve better working conditions that will allow them to provide the best quality of care to their residents. Among the issues they cited at the facility were poor staffing ratios among caregivers, low workplace morale, a lack of respect from management, and unaffordable healthcare benefits for themselves and their families. Now that they have formed their union, they plan to fight to make Tallwoods a positive environment for all.
“I voted to form a union with my co-workers because I want my residents to have the best care that they can,” said Michelle Valentino, a licensed practical nurse at Tallwoods. “We need to be able to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, and for management to provide us with better staffing and job security.”
“This is a terrific victory for caregivers, nursing homes residents, and their families," said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "With a union voice, healthcare workers have the opportunity to advocate for higher standards of care for their patients and job improvements that lead to the retention of qualified, experienced staff. We are so proud to welcome into our union family the dedicated caregivers at Tallwoods Care Center, and we look forward to winning a contract that gives them the rights and respect they deserve."
