MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2018
Contact: Mindy Berman | 518-229-0486

Despite low ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services*, nursing home operators refuse to settle a contract with workers that would improve staffing

What: Informational Picketing
Note: An informational picket, is not a strike. Picketing takes place on workers’ time, no one misses an assigned shift and resident care is not impacted.

When: Thursday, July 19 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Best Photo/Video Avail: 2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m. during shift change. Interviews available throughout the day.

Where: Livingston Hills Nursing & Rehab Center, 2781 Route 9, Livingston

Who: Nursing home workers, members of 1199SEIU, and supporters including local elected officials.

Background: Livingston Hills Nursing Home has performed "much below average" on staffing measures available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (see attached document). At the same time, the owners offer below market wages and benefits—and there have been consequences. While required by CMS, the nursing home has not submitted recent staffing data, however, caregivers report a revolving door of staff, with dedicated and qualified workers leaving as soon as they find a job with improved pay and a better work environment.

Ongoing turnover at a nursing home is a serious problem, because frail and elderly residents count on continuity of care. For decades 1199SEIU contracts have proven to help recruit and retain healthcare staff who provide state of the art quality care across New York. In fact, this week, 70,000 1199SEIU members settled a contract with the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes that provides wage increases, and maintains health and pension benefits.

Donna Decker, a 29-year veteran certified nursing assistant said, “I’m exhausted. We are so short-staffed – everyone deserves better than this–workers and our residents. Livingston Hills can no longer delay settling our contract when we don’t have enough staff and quality care is at risk!”

####

1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in the nation. We represent over 6,500 healthcare workers in Central NY and over 400,000 total members throughout the East Coast. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.