Even as the U.S. Supreme Court issued a split decision last week on what some was considered a blow to the country’s labor unions, 1199SEIU members in Florida were making gains.



Last week, caregivers at eight Greystone nursing homes overwhelmingly agreed to a new union contract. Concerned about their employer’s proposal to no longer guarantee an eight-hour work day, which would have meant less time with residents and a loss of pay, more than 600 healthcare workers at the Greystone Health Management-owned nursing homes around the state, including the South Florida, St. Petersburg and Ocala areas, stood strong and were ready to strike on July 2 for their residents and their families. Greystone’s management decided to settle.



“It’s a good feeling to have our new contract and not have to strike,” explained Christine Gadson, a CNA of 28 years who works at Apollo Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. Petersburg. “Now we can just do what we do best--care for our residents. Knowing that we’ll be getting raises every six months helps relieve the every-day burden of wondering how we make ends meet for our families.”



The new contract guarantees an eight-hour workday and 20-cents-an-hour raises every six months. Greystone Health Management’s previous offer, during the contentious contract negotiations, would have required already overburdened caregivers to do more with less.



“We stood together and we stood strong for our community,” said Gloria Weems, a CNA at the Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center for more than 25 years. “We are glad that we averted a strike and that we will be able to have more time to care for our residents, who are like family to us. On the home front, we will be able to better provide for our families and pay our bills.”