Union workers at local nursing homes ink new contract
FRACKVILLE – Union workers at two local nursing homes ratified new contracts recently, which their union says invest in wages, secure retirement, and training opportunities.
Locally, SEIU Healthcare PA says Broad Mountain Health and Rehab in Frackville and Mountain City Nursing and Rehab near Hazleton both have ratified new agreements.
“These contracts are a critical step forward for workers and for every Pennsylvanian who relies on nursing home care,” said Matthew Yarnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. “The Medicaid cuts make this exact kind of investment more important. Union workers are leading the way in valuing this care and protecting residents, and it’s time for every operator and the Commonwealth to follow their lead.”
The newly-ratified contracts span 45 homes across Pennsylvania. Highlights of the various contract agreements include:
- Across-the-board wage increases for nursing and support staff
- Secure retirement plans
- Training and education opportunities for skills enhancement, including incentives to achieve certified nursing assistant and licensed practical nurse certifications
“We went into negotiations being realistic about our needs and moving caregivers forward,” said Jeannine Horner, a certified nursing assistant at Windber Woods in Somerset County. “This contract addressed those needs: Quality raises in a time of unstable funding. With the improvements to wage scales, raises, and dependent coverage for health insurance, this sets our facility up to be able to recruit and retain staff.”
“I’m proud of our new contract because it helps us work toward our shared goal of our residents receiving the best care,” said Cheila Martinez, a certified nursing assistant and housekeeper at Spruce Manor in Berks County, a Saber-operated facility with one of the labor-industry partnership’s first collective bargaining agreements. “My message to nursing home owners refusing to raise standards is: Our residents deserve a safe, clean, and stable home. We, the workers, need the support to give them the care they deserve.”
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