Lewiston Nursing Home Workers To Picket Over Staffing Crisis, Lack of Competitive Wages
February 3, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: April Ezzell, 1199SEIU Communications, (716)449-1620
ADVANCE INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Union Caregivers Working Without A Contract Say Low Wages Exacerbate Staffing Crisis While St. Louis Based Ascension Living Closes Three Units, Threatens Layoffs
Who: Nursing Home Workers At Ascension Living at Our Lady of Peace
What: Informational Picket
When: Thursday, February 10, 2022
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Press Conference at 3:15 pm
Where: Our Lady of Peace, 5285 Lewiston Road, Lewiston, NY 14092
Why?: More than 150 nursing home workers at Our Lady of Peace in Lewiston have been working without a union contract since December 31, 2021 when their 16-month contract expired. Healthcare workers say their wages are falling below area standards and their St. Louis, Missouri 1 based employer, Ascension Living isn’t offering competitive wages to recruit and retain staff for the Lewiston area facility. Our Lady of Peace recently closed three units while threatening layoffs, exacerbating the staffing crisis and reducing the amount of nursing home beds available to ease overflow from area hospitals.
“A lot of money has been spent on the building, which is great but the owners need to invest in workers too,” says Brendella Pryor, a Certified Nurse Assistant. “I have worked here for 29 years and it’s how I pay my bills. There’s a lot of places you can go to make more money, but I’ve stayed here for my residents. I’m invested in their care and providing for them. We give good care, we come in and do the work, the hard work and want to be paid a competitive wage,” says Pryor. 1199SEIU and Ascension Living management are set to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, February 9th.
Caregivers at Our Lady of Peace are Registered Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, PRN nurses, Environmental Services Aides, Housekeeping Aides, Cafeteria Aides, Laundry Aides, Nutrition Service Aides, Cooks, Porters, Recreational Aides, and Unit Attendants. ###
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. https://www.1199seiu.org