I’ve spent the last nine years caring for people at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. This work isn’t easy. It’s physically demanding, emotionally heavy, and often thankless, but I do it because I truly care about people. Helping others has always been part of who I am.

As nursing home workers, we take on responsibilities that many people never see. We do the job families can’t do or choose not to do. We show up for residents every day, even on holidays, even when we’re exhausted, even when we’re struggling ourselves. But too often when we need care, the system doesn’t show up for us. The health insurance offered at Barnegat is worse than what the state provides through the Affordable Care Act. After drastic changes were made at the federal level and subsidies were not extended, my premiums didn’t just increase — they became more than five times higher with copays and a large deductible on top of that. Trying to keep up with those costs while working in health care has been overwhelming. The federal government would rather give tax cuts to the richest people in our country than provide me with affordable health care.

Alongside my work as a CNA, I’m also a student working toward becoming a therapist because helping people heal physically and emotionally is something I’m deeply passionate about. Even with financial aid, school is expensive and the costs add up quickly. I work four days a week so I can focus on my studies, but that also means earning less. Like many working people, I’m constantly trying to balance caring for others, staying afloat and investing in my future.

I’ve worked at Barnegat for six years, and when new management took over, the previous 1199 contract was not honored. That left workers without a union contract for 13 years. Organizing our union again and bargaining our first contract has become incredibly meaningful to me. This is my first time serving on the bargaining committee. I’m proud to be there with coworkers who have given their lives to this facility, including one CNA who has dedicated more than 40 years to Barnegat and another who has given more than 20. For all that time and service, they have had no financial security to retire because there was no 401(k) in place. Seeing that has been heartbreaking, but it’s also motivating. It reminds me that it’s never too late to fight for good benefits, not just for ourselves, but for the future generations of workers coming behind us.

Sitting in bargaining has been frustrating. Corporate doesn’t know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. They don’t know what it feels like to have to choose which bill gets paid with this paycheck and which one has to wait. We’re begging for bare minimum healthcare coverage, yet those sitting across the table from us probably have the best package in the world. Now, we have only six holidays. Management gets every paid holiday, while we have to negotiate something as basic as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The contrast couldn’t be more clear.

After nearly a year of bargaining, we’re finally close to ratifying our first contract. The agreement on the table includes more affordable health care and a 401(k), giving workers peace of mind and a chance to plan for the future. It’s proof that when we stand together, we can make real improvements in our lives and workplaces.

Being part of the union has become a passion of mine — it’s about dignity, fairness, and taking care of one another. This work takes time, patience, and commitment, but it’s worth it. When healthcare workers stand together, we’re stronger and we can keep doing what we do best, caring for others. And with a good contract, we can take care of ourselves and our families at the same time.