1199SEIU Florida Members at Plaza Health Network Ratify Contract But Fight Still Looms

January 1, 1970

After more than two long years at the negotiating table, members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East at five Plaza Health Network nursing homes in Florida ratified a new contract. The agreement provides for restoring the pension and employee healthcare contributions levels, and includes the first wage increase in more than three years.



“It is because of the sweat on our brow and sore backs that Plaza nursing homes are the best in south Florida,” says Tina Hardy, a certified nursing assistant at Arch Plaza Rehabilitation and Nursing Center with more than 30 years of service. “We work hard to care for our residents, and we should have the ability to do the same for our families. Our bargaining committee stood strong and unified throughout this fight. I think they heard us loud and clear.”



Plaza Health Network is Miami-Dade County’s largest not-for-profit nursing home company with a rich history of caring for our community’s elderly with dignity and respect. However, many caregivers are calling the board of directors’ motives into question. Members fought a long and hard campaign to continue Plaza’s rich history while management attempted to short change their pension and offer them a net-loss under previous proposals. The agreement was reached at the eleventh hour as members were set to picket just hours later that day.



Meanwhile, rumors started swirling that Plaza’s prized gem on South Beach, South Pointe Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, would be closing so that Plaza board chair and real estate mogul, Russell Galbut, can develop a luxury condo/hotel across the street from his 20,000 sq. foot mansion, currently under construction. 1199SEIU Florida staff later confirmed the rumors. Since the pickets were canceled, Plaza members and community decided to converge at Russell Galbut’s office to put him and the surrounding community on notice and protest the potential closing of the South Beach nursing home.



“We’ve been fighting for more than two years but we have plenty left in the tank,” said Manuela Guillen, a CNA with more than 20 years of service at South Pointe Plaza. “Our residents and jobs mean the world to us, and we aren’t going to stand idly by and let South Pointe close without putting up a fight.”