Nursing Homes Workers Threaten To Strike During Pandemic

CHICAGO, IL — Workers at 40 nursing homes served notice of their intent to strike, claiming that the owners of their facilities have ignored their pleas for personal protection equipment, an 11-percent pay raise and hazard pay. Unless the workers’ demands are met, they'll walk on May 8.

Strike notices were delivered to area homes where there have been numerous cases of coronavirus have been reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Local homes include Aperion Care Midlothian, Avantara Evergreen Park, Hickory Nursing Home Pavilion in Hickory Hills and Symphony of Morgan Park.

The SEIU is representing thousands of nursing home workers in negotiations for a new one-year contract. Workers say owners have refused to provide improved PPE, enhanced safety protocols, appropriate hazard pay and base compensation. The workers are also demanding paid time off for coronavirus-related illness, increased staffing and protection for their healthcare coverage.

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Finally, workers want the nursing homes to be more transparent about COVID-19 cases and risks at their facilities. They claim they have no other choice but to strike to protect themselves and the vulnerable residents in their facilities.

“My coworkers and I have told our management that we need more PPE and we need to know who has the virus in our facilities, so we can help keep everyone safe, but they seem more focused on protecting their profits than protecting people,” said Francine Rico in a written statement, an employed at Villa of Windsor Park. “My sister who works with me has tested positive for COVID-19 and I have other coworkers who have it, too, and we don’t even know how many residents have it. We are being forced to risk our lives for poverty wages. That’s why we’re going on strike for our lives and the lives of our residents.”

Some nursing homes have been plagued by one or more residents’ death from coronavirus. Avantara Evergreen Park has had five deaths and Bridgeview Health Care has had 10 residents die, according to available IDPH data.

“Nursing home workers are facing a life-and-death crisis and owners have failed to address this crisis responsibly—despite workers and residents’ families and the public calling upon them to do just that,” said Greg Kelley, president, SEIU Healthcare Illinois. “That is why workers have called a strike. And that is why they are ready to strike for their lives.”

The workers’ current contract covering these facilities is set to expire on April 30. Since before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis the workers have been in negotiation with the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities, representing the nursing home owners.

The workers are calling for a short-term 1-year contract that would set a wage floor of $15 per hour for all workers and $16 an hour for certified nursing assistants. It would also provide for a 50-percent hazard pay bonus during the current and ongoing health emergency.

Additionally, the workers are calling for an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave for COVID-19 or related illnesses, and for their health care cove4rage to continue for any workers who have to take leave to protect themselves and their families.

The Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities blasted union leaders for using “this once-in-a-lifetime crisis” as a negotiating tactic, in a statement to the State Journal Register.

“It is extremely troubling that SEIU union leadership would ask front-line nursing home employees to abandon elderly and infirm residents during a pandemic and our residents’ greatest hour of need,” Bob Molitor, CEO of the Alden Network and a board member of the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities, said in a written statement.

Nursing home owners have until May 8 to respond before workers stage a walkout.

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