Some 130 caregivers at Odd Fellow Nursing Home and other community supporters, braved the winter chill on January 25 and went to the picket line to get their message to the public. They made it known that they have done their fair share, and we are asking management to do the same. Union members at Odd Fellow are looking to protect their jobs maintain quality care for their patients.



“In November 2011 we sat down to bargain a contract with Odd Fellow,” said Sandy Julian, a Licensed Practical Nurse at the facility. “The administration gave us a framework to work within that would keep the nursing home financially viable. They told us if we, the workers, sacrificed and took some cuts, that we would preserve jobs, protect safe staffing levels and most importantly keep Odd Fellows open to serve this community. Workers at Odd Fellow don’t make a lot of money, but we did it because, we all felt we needed to do our fair share.”



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In November 2011, the employees--members of 1199SEIU--took a cut in hours, for full-time employees from 40 hours to 37.5 hours. The reduction in hours not only means a cut in wages, but it will take employees longer to earn time off. Further reductions will jeopardize health care coverage for many employees. The caregivers also delayed two scheduled wage increases in order to avoid layoffs.



Over the last year, the union has presented research on cost-saving measures that would save the facility from making unnecessary layoffs. Management has already laid off 10 workers and more are pending. The bargaining committee is planning a union-wide rally in late February to support of the workers at Odd Fellow.