Last week, caregivers at Consulate of North Fort Myers voted overwhelmingly to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The fifty certified nursing assistants of Consulate of North Fort Myers now join more than 1,800 employees in 20 Consulate facilities throughout Florida. Despite daily attempts by management to intimidate, the caregivers at Consulate of North Fort Myers bravely stood up for a voice in the quality of care they provide and the ability to advocate for a better life for their families.



Consulate Health Care has raced to become one of the top 10 largest nursing home providers in the nation and earned record profits by shifting healthcare costs to caregivers, reducing the number of hours that caregivers spend at the bedside, cutting worker hours, paying low wages and increasing employees’ health insurance cost through premiums and deductibles.



Upon learning of their union victory, many of these workers were shouting and crying in joy in recognition that they now have the support of their 1199SEIU sisters and brothers in their fight for respect and dignity.