On Tuesday, May 28th, nursing home workers at Blue Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center and Saugus Care & Rehabilitation Center voted overwhelmingly to go on a two-day strike effective June 20^th and 21^st. The facilities are 30 miles apart with two different owners but 1199 members face the same crisis of low wages and mismanagement. This crisis is a symptom of a larger issue within the nursing home industry in Massachusetts as out of state owners enter the market without interest in investing in employees, residents, or the communities they serve.

Workers at both facilities are demanding a fair contract that honors their hard work and dedicated service. We all know that quality care comes from quality jobs. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “all labor has dignity.” Management at Saugus and Blue Hills are not treating workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“I’ve been working full-time at Blue Hills for 12 years. It’s very unfortunate that the owners of this company will not cooperate with caregivers for a fair contract. We deserve fair wages in order to provide for our own families.” Stephanie Hoppstetter, Certified Nursing Assistant

This fight is not just for nursing home workers, it is a fight that all healthcare workers are behind to protect quality care at every stage of life. As workers go on strike, we hope that you will stand with us to protect standards for quality care and good jobs in our community. Sign this petition to urge both owners to the bargaining table to settle a fair contract that lifts wages and enhances resident care.