1199SEIU Issues 10-day Notice To Bronx-Based Centers Health Care as Nursing Home Workers Plan Informational Picket

June 1, 2023

Rochester, NY - More than 40 union nursing home workers at Rochester Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Center will hold an informational picket in early June if workers can not reach a fair agreement with Centers Health Care. Their 3-year contract expired December 31, 2022. Union nursing home workers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

Caregivers at Rochester Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing have been bargaining for a fair contract for several months without much progress towards a fair contract. Union workers are demanding competitive wages to recruit and retain staff to provide care for residents.

Workers say a lack of dignity and respect on the job lead to chronic short staffing. “We choose to work at Rochester Center to care for the residents from our community,” said Esther Dellamonica, Licensed Practical Nurse. “We take care of them, but we can’t take care of our own family because of unfair wages, heavy workload and short staffing. There are times when I am caring for 40 residents by myself. They promise a bonus and when it’s time to get paid, we get an excuse without the money to care for our families. We aren’t asking for handouts, we are asking for what is owed to us and what we worked hard for,” said Dellamonica.

Nursing home workers at Rochester Center work as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Housekeeping Aides, Laundry Aides, Cooks, Dietary Aides, Receptionists, Staffing Coordinators, Unit Assistants, and Maintenance Workers.

1199SEIU and Centers Health Care are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 10:00 am. If no agreement can be reached, workers will hold an informational on Thursday, June 8 from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm outside the facility on Beahan Road.

According to a recent Certificate of Need filed with New York State Department of Health (See Project 220139), the current for-profit owners of Rochester Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing are Kenneth Rozenburg, Amir Abramchik, and David Greenberg.

###

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.

www.1199seiu.org