Nursing home workers overwhelmingly voted down for-profit owners last, best, and final offer signaling approval to strike at two WNY long-term care facilities owned and operated by Long Island Businessman 

 

Buffalo, NY – Following a 7-day strike protesting unfair labor practices at two care facilities owned and operated by the McGuire group^[1] and Living Legends, caregivers have since voted down their employers last, best, and final offer.  Long-term care workers at Autumn View Manor, Garden Gate Manor, North Gate Manor, and Seneca Manor voted down the offer. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East. 

 

1199SEIU members at 4 McGuire long-term care facilities returned to the bargaining table two days this week with management after overwhelmingly voting down the employer's best and final offer. The failed vote gives the member led bargaining committee the authority to issue a 10-day notice to strike 2 McGuire owned facilities. 

 

“It’s been several long tiring days of negotiations. We started sharing with management that our members voted down their final offer. For the first time it felt like they were taking us seriously. We were hopeful we could reach an agreement soon, but if not, we are ready to strike if we need to," said Awilda Villanueva, Certified Nurse Assistant at Seneca Manor. 

 

However, at the suggestion of the Mediator from Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), both sides agreed to take a “cooling” off period until July 21. During this time, the union can not issue a 10-day notice to strike and the employer can not implement their last, best, and final offer. Union leaders say that the employer’s last, best, and final offer puts workers at a disadvantage compared to other for-profit nursing homes that previously reached agreements over the last two months. 

 

The contract covering more than 1,100 caregivers at the four WNY long-term care facilities expired April 30, 2025. 

 

Union members work as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Personal Attendants, Housekeeping & Laundry Workers, Maintenance Workers, Technical Employees, Dietary and Food Service Workers. 

 

On background: 

1199SEIU has filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on behalf of workers against owners and operators of McGuire Group alleging bad faith bargaining and coercive tactics.^[2]

                                                              

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