Over 120 1199ers at Delaware Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will held an informational picket on Thursday, March 27, 2014 outside of the facility at the corner of Delaware and W. Utica in Buffalo. Our line was joined by union firefighters, teachers, teamsters, community activists and politicians. Workers will stood up to protest substantial benefit cuts being proposed by the new operators of the long term care facility. Centers for Specialty Care, a for profit nursing home chain headquartered in Bronx, New York took over operations of Delaware Nursing and Rehabilitation Center this year. Workers have been working without a contract since the contract expired in 2011.



Specialty Care is seeking deep cuts in benefits, including reduced paid time off, greater employee contributions for health insurance and slashing funding for the employee pension. The new owners also want to end daily overtime. The small wage increase being proposed does not cover the increased cost to employees of the benefit cuts.



“Workers at Delaware have always put the care of the residents before themselves. Over the years, in the midst of ownership changes, there were weeks where our members did not even get paid” said lead union negotiator Todd Hobler. “They still did their jobs and provided care for the residents. These workers deserve better than what Specialty Care is offering.”



“Many of us working here caring for the residents of Delaware Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have not had a raise in over three years, some as long as five years,” said Certified Nursing Assistant Rickey Deshaw. “We can’t afford to give up what these new owners are asking for.”



The average wage at the nursing home is a little more than $13.00 an hour. 1199SEIU represents all of the 160 Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Unit Secretaries and service staff who work at the facility.