(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East-represented Caregivers who are employed at four rural nursing homes owned by the Living Legends Network have overwhelmingly voted to authorize an indefinite Strike. 

Workers rejected management's last best and final proposal as 95% voted in favor of striking in protest of Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) filed against at the nursing homes.

To date, 1199 SEIU has filed three charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the for-profit Nursing Home Chain, alleging threats of retaliation against Union Members planning to Strike, Union-Busting by failing to rehire vacant Bargaining Unit positions, and bargaining in bad faith by implementing their last best and final offer without making movement at the table.

The current one-year contract that covers more than 300 Workers expired on April 30th.

Both sides have been negotiating since early February.

In April, the Nursing Home Workers held informational pickets at three of the sites in Allegany, Westfield and East Aurora.

The indefinite Strike at each of the facilities in Allegany, East Aurora, Orchard Park and Westfield will begin daily - starting on Thursday, June 13th from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Caregivers at the four facilities are employed as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Health Aides, Patient Care Assistants, Medical Techs, Housekeepers, Cooks and Dietary Workers

The Union Caregivers say their employer’s last best and final offer does not respect the hard work they do.

Cheryl Aavik, a Laundry Aide, said: “The pay isn’t good enough.  I do more work than they think I do.  I felt disrespected when I saw that they were only offering a very small pay increase.  Management effectively plans to implement their wage proposal without making any more movement at the table and Workers noticed that - so they stood together and voted it down.  We believe the employer is negotiating in bad faith and we were made aware of verbal threats of retaliation against Workers who join the Strike.”

Competitive wages to help recruit and retain more Staff is a key sticking point for the Workers, said 1199 SEIU’s Grace Bogdanove: “The McGuire Group is paying higher wages for the same work at other facilities they operate across Western New York and these Workers deserve nothing less.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Report In Its Entirety, Go To: 1199SEIU Members At 4 Rural Absolut Care Nursing Homes Set To Strike After Employer Commits Several Unfair Labor Practices Including Unlawfully Imposing A Final Contract Offer Leaving Caregivers Below Industry Wage And Benefit Standards

Photo Provided By 1199 SEIU.