(WESTERN NEW YORK) – Hundreds of Union-represented Nursing Home Workers employed at six long-term care facilities in Erie and Niagara Counties are picketing today (Monday, April 7th) and will again on Tuesday (April 8th) over unsafe staffing levels and a lack of progress in contract talks, 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Representatives announced.

1199 SEIU - the largest Health Care Workers Union in the country, issued 10-day notices to the six facilities last week, including two of the largest nursing home chains in Western New York. 

Bedside Caregivers and Service Workers employed at the facilities in Erie and Niagara Counties participated in informational picketing outside their facilities before and after work or during their lunch or break time. 

However, these first six pickets that will take place signal the start of a bigger struggle for thousands of Western New York Nursing Home Workers. 

1199 SEIU has filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges against two of the chains for bargaining in bad faith, with one refusing to negotiate at all, Union Officials said. 

The thousands of Nursing Home Workers who are participating in the coordinated campaign are fighting for fair and living wages, quality and affordable health insurance benefits, and pension improvements that will recruit and retain more Workers to provide care for residents.

The Workers believe that a comprehensive benefits package - including quality health insurance, training and education, and a childcare fund, will improve staffing levels at area nursing homes.

The Nursing Home Workers are part of a historic coordinated campaign that includes 27 different long-term care facilities in Erie, Niagara, Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties. 

Of the facilities in contract talks, 24 are for-profit while three are non-profit. 

Negotiations for most began late February. 

Union contracts covering a majority of the nursing homes are set to expire on April 30th (2025).

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Hundreds of Nursing Home Workers at 6 Long-Term Care Facilities in Erie and Niagara County Will Picket Over Staffing Levels and Lack Of Progress In Contract Talks Next Week As Some For Profit Homes Bank Millions In Related Party Transactions

Photo Courtesy Of 1199 SEIU Upstate's Facebook Page.