Hundreds of 1199SEIU members rallied in Union City, NJ on Tuesday, Sept 30 for the second time in three weeks to support 450 workers at Alaris Health in their quest for a contract. Only this time, 1199SEIU members were also demanding that Alaris let two dozen workers that the company has illegally locked out of their jobs come back to work.

“I really can’t understand how in this day and age bosses think they can get away with this,” said Esther Cintron, a home health aide with CIDNY Homecare in the Bronx, NY who came to the rally to show support for Alaris Health workers.

“We have to be out here to demand justice for Alaris workers and to show others that they have to stand up too,” Cintron continued. “We are here to show others that they have to stand up and fight for their rights.”

In a clear violation of federal labor law, Alaris Health locked out two dozen workers at its four facilities when they tried to return to work after a series of three-day strikes, held Sept. 16 through Sept. 19. The strikes were held to protest unfair labor practices and to press management to end their demands for givebacks and settle a fair contract after more than half a year of arduous negotiations.

“This says to us that that they don’t care about us and they don’t care about our residents,” said Danielle Humphrey, a CNA at Alaris Health Castle Hill in Union City who’s currently locked out. “They have different agency workers on the floor taking care of our residents every day when they normally have the same people taking care of then all the time. That’s no good.”

In addition to 1199SEIU members from numerous divisions who showed their solidarity with the Alaris workers, the rally drew scores of community members, Union officers and elected officials, including Congressman Albio Sires, NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney and Union City Mayor and Senator Brian Stack, all of whom have been unwavering supporters of the Alaris workers. When he stepped up to the mic 1199SEIU Pres. George Gresham was greeted by chants of “No Contract! No Peace!”

“I don’t have to speak. I can just let the workers speak,” said Gresham in reply to the boisterous welcome, before he turned serious. “I don’t like to come to New Jersey to fight a boss that is so greedy, stingy and inhumane that the only way you can thank workers for years of service is to lock them out.”

Gresham went on guarantee the full strength of 1199SEIU’s membership if that’s what it takes to win Alaris Health workers their contract.

“We are here today to tell you mister boss, you can run but you can’t hide,” said Gresham. “This is just an appetizer.”