(LEWISTON, NEW YORK) – Mostly every one of the 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)-represented Nursing Home Workers at Ascension Living’s Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home in Lewiston/Niagara County participated in a one-day Strike that was held on Wednesday (March 9th) to demand competitive wages and better Staffing levels.

The 150 Union Caregivers employed at Ascension Living at Our Lady of Peace are Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Assistants, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)-Rehabilitation, Certified Rehabilitation Aide, Direct Care Nurse (Graduate PN), Environmental Services Operator, Housekeeping Aide, Laundry Aide, LPNs, Maintenance Technician, Nurse Assistant Student, Nutrition Services Aide, Nutrition Services Cook, Cook's Assistant, Porter/Dishwasher, Recreational Aide, Registered Staff Nurses, Senior Housekeeping Aide, and Unit Attendants.

“Mostly every one” of the Union’s 150 Members at Our Lady of Peace participated in Wednesday’s Strike action, 1199 SEIU Vice President Grace Bogdanove said.

Unionized Caregivers have been working without a contract since December 31st (2021) when their 16-month contract with Ascension Living, a subsidiary of one of the largest Catholic

Health Systems in the United States that’s based in St. Louis, Missouri, expired.

The Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home Employees voted to authorize a one-day Strike - and in response, Ascension Living issued letters threatening its Workers with a five-day lock-out.

But last week, 1199 SEIU filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging Ascension Living was in violation of Worker’s Rights under Federal Labor Law.  As a result, Ascension Living decided not to lock-out its Workers for four days longer than their one-day Strike.

“I think Ascension Living was embarrassed by threatening to lock us out,” LPN Krista Diez said. “Management saw that everyone is on board for the Strike.  We will do what it takes to get the wages everyone needs so we can get some Staff in here to help care for these residents.”

“We didn’t fold when management threatened to lock us out, we grew stronger,” CNA Brendella Pryor said. “We’re ready for whatever’s coming next.”

Wages offered by Ascension Living are not keeping up with nursing home wages that are offered in other similar facilities across Western New York, 1199 SEIU Officials say.

“We can’t get people to come work for low wages,” Maintenance Technician Daniel Martinucci said. “Our wages are really low compared to other nursing homes in Western New York.  If Ascension Living is serious about staffing our local nursing home properly, they need to improve the wage scale.”

On another front, 1199SEIU has asked a Federal Mediator to join talks in hopes of reaching an agreement with Ascension Living.

“We (did) everything we can to avoid a Strike,” 1199 SEIU Vice President Bogdanove said. “However, we cannot ignore the staffing crisis at Our Lady of Peace or the fact that Ascension Living has closed down three units.  Ascension Living must offer competitive wages that will recruit and retain Health Care Workers.  This will help to remediate the staffing crisis so Workers can spend more time caring for their residents.”

Last week, a mobile billboard featuring Caregivers drove throughout the Niagara County area, asking residents to sign a petition in support of their fight for a fair contract.

Workers also distributed leaflets to Lewiston area businesses advising the community about the impending one-day Strike.

But this isn’t Ascension Living’s only Labor dispute.

Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals are also demanding fair wages, COVID-19 pay and better staffing from Ascension Living.

In fiscal year 2021, Ascension Living reported a net income of 5.7 billion dollars, while receiving $1.8 billion in Federal Grants.

In February, dozens of Our Lady of Peace Workers participated in an informational picket to call attention to Ascension Living’s closure of units and lack of competitive wages.

1199 SEIU Representatives say the nursing home’s unit closure and layoffs have not alleviated its staffing crisis, but has worked only to lower the amount of available beds in the Niagara County area.

Our Lady of Peace started closing units in November 2020, Union Officials say.

According to the U.S. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the facility is currently 48% occupied, which is well below the 83% New York State average, they said.

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East - whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, is the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in America - representing more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers throughout the states of New York, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida, and in Washington, D.C.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor's Note: The Photo That Appears With This Labor News Report Is Courtesy Of International Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4's William Mayer Via The Social Network Facebook.