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Lexington Nursing Home Caregivers Strike after Zenith Continues Massive Pay and Healthcare Cuts
50 percent pay cuts threaten care standards for elderly residents at the nursing home
Nearly ninety caregivers at the Zenith Lexington Nursing Home were forced to strike following the slash and burn takeover of a local nursing home by an out-of-state company, which has resulted in massive pay and healthcare cuts.
Zenith Healthcare, a secretive New York ownership group, unilaterally imposed sweeping 40 to 60 percent pay cuts in May, while also hiking the cost of health insurance by thousands of dollars for low-wage workers. These cuts, which have been in effect for more than 60 days, are forcing many workers to make terrible choices, such as buying groceries or paying rent or putting off medical care. Many workers have been able to make rent and mortgage payments for June and are now on the brink of homelessness. To date, Zenith and its CEO Ari Schwartz have refused to rescind the cuts and have failed to engage in any meaningful negotiations with caregivers.
"Zenith's actions have been incredibly reckless and irresponsible, threatening employees and elderly residents who rely on this center for quality care,” said Veronica Turner, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “It’s unconscionable that Zenith would force caregivers into this situation by insisting on massive and unreasonable pay cuts that are driving local families into poverty. On behalf of our elderly loved ones and the caregivers who dedicate their lives to caring for them, we must stand up to Zenith and demand better.”
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Representing nearly 50,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
Lexington Nursing Home Caregivers Strike after Zenith Continues Massive Pay and Healthcare Cuts
50 percent pay cuts threaten care standards for elderly residents at the nursing home
Nearly ninety caregivers at the Zenith Lexington Nursing Home were forced to strike following the slash and burn takeover of a local nursing home by an out-of-state company, which has resulted in massive pay and healthcare cuts.
Zenith Healthcare, a secretive New York ownership group, unilaterally imposed sweeping 40 to 60 percent pay cuts in May, while also hiking the cost of health insurance by thousands of dollars for low-wage workers. These cuts, which have been in effect for more than 60 days, are forcing many workers to make terrible choices, such as buying groceries or paying rent or putting off medical care. Many workers have been able to make rent and mortgage payments for June and are now on the brink of homelessness. To date, Zenith and its CEO Ari Schwartz have refused to rescind the cuts and have failed to engage in any meaningful negotiations with caregivers.
"Zenith's actions have been incredibly reckless and irresponsible, threatening employees and elderly residents who rely on this center for quality care,” said Veronica Turner, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “It’s unconscionable that Zenith would force caregivers into this situation by insisting on massive and unreasonable pay cuts that are driving local families into poverty. On behalf of our elderly loved ones and the caregivers who dedicate their lives to caring for them, we must stand up to Zenith and demand better.”
# # #
Representing nearly 50,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
