CHM agrees to recognize the union
Just two weeks after unanimously voting to strike if their union was not recognized, caregivers at St. Francis Nursing Home, members of 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, were able to avoid a work stoppage by reaching an agreement with the employer, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, LLC. (CHM), late Friday night.
The employer agreed to recognize the union, rehire all bargaining unit members, maintain existing contract language and wages, and begin to negotiate a new contract within 90 days of March 15, 2015.
1199SEIU Vice President Todd Hobler said, “This agreement speaks to the strength and courage of these workers to stand up for fair treatment and quality care for their residents."
The workers say that no one wanted to strike, but they would have, if the employer had forced the issue.
“We stood up and fought for our rights as union members and we got it done. It feels good that our residents now know that we will be here for them, they don’t need to worry,” said Toni Adamson a 14-‐year employee at St. Francis.
The certified nursing assistants (C.N.A.s) and service staff at St. Francis have been members of 1199SEIU for decades. They asked the new owners to recognize the union and agree to negotiate a new contract prior to the closing of the sale, which is scheduled to take place some time next month. CHM had refused, forcing the workers to take a stand to protect their jobs and continuity of care at the facility.
Background: When Catholic Health began the process of selling St. Francis to the out-‐-‐-‐of-‐-‐-‐ town buyer, CHM, 1199SEIU requested that the new owner recognize the union before the sale was complete. When there was no response, the union put the request in writing, again, to no avail. During the time the workers were filling out applications in order to keep the same jobs they have been doing for years, 1199SEIU presented the new owner with a simple written agreement stating that the new employer would recognize the union and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement after the sale was done. They employer said they would get back to the union. Union members presented the employer with petitions, again asking for the security of union recognition and a pledge to negotiate. On the evening of March 6, CHM agreed to recognize the union, rehire all bargaining unit members and negotiate.
Taneisha Tanner, a C.N.A. for 11 years said, “I’m glad that we stood together to keep our union and protect our jobs. In the end, this is good for everyone. We will have security and our residents and their families will have peace of mind.”
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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.
Just two weeks after unanimously voting to strike if their union was not recognized, caregivers at St. Francis Nursing Home, members of 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, were able to avoid a work stoppage by reaching an agreement with the employer, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, LLC. (CHM), late Friday night.
The employer agreed to recognize the union, rehire all bargaining unit members, maintain existing contract language and wages, and begin to negotiate a new contract within 90 days of March 15, 2015.
1199SEIU Vice President Todd Hobler said, “This agreement speaks to the strength and courage of these workers to stand up for fair treatment and quality care for their residents."
The workers say that no one wanted to strike, but they would have, if the employer had forced the issue.
“We stood up and fought for our rights as union members and we got it done. It feels good that our residents now know that we will be here for them, they don’t need to worry,” said Toni Adamson a 14-‐year employee at St. Francis.
The certified nursing assistants (C.N.A.s) and service staff at St. Francis have been members of 1199SEIU for decades. They asked the new owners to recognize the union and agree to negotiate a new contract prior to the closing of the sale, which is scheduled to take place some time next month. CHM had refused, forcing the workers to take a stand to protect their jobs and continuity of care at the facility.
Background: When Catholic Health began the process of selling St. Francis to the out-‐-‐-‐of-‐-‐-‐ town buyer, CHM, 1199SEIU requested that the new owner recognize the union before the sale was complete. When there was no response, the union put the request in writing, again, to no avail. During the time the workers were filling out applications in order to keep the same jobs they have been doing for years, 1199SEIU presented the new owner with a simple written agreement stating that the new employer would recognize the union and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement after the sale was done. They employer said they would get back to the union. Union members presented the employer with petitions, again asking for the security of union recognition and a pledge to negotiate. On the evening of March 6, CHM agreed to recognize the union, rehire all bargaining unit members and negotiate.
Taneisha Tanner, a C.N.A. for 11 years said, “I’m glad that we stood together to keep our union and protect our jobs. In the end, this is good for everyone. We will have security and our residents and their families will have peace of mind.”
####
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.
