Rochester, NY – Union workers, resident families, community advocates, and elected officials took to the streets outside of The Pearl Nursing Center today in a demand for improved working conditions.  

 

The union contract covering more than 80 union workers at The Pearl Nursing Center expired more than nine months ago on April 30, 2025.  Caregivers have been working without a contract ever since as negotiations between union and management stall. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers union in the country. 

 

“I want to provide the care my residents deserve but it’s hard to do that without enough staff and supplies we need to do our jobs properly. I take money out of my own pocket to make sure my residents get the things that they need. We want to help maintain the health and safety of our residents,” said Rondell Myles, Certified Nurse Assistant.

 

“A change needs to happen, not tomorrow but today! Quality healthcare is a human is right,” said Keith Harris, resident family member.

 

“We are calling on this for-profit employer to settle this contract and to provide dignity and respect to the caregivers and residents,” said Tiara Tazell, 1199SEIU Administrative Organizer and lead negotiator.  

“Profit owners must invest in the workers and provide a fair contract. Workers deserve a livable wage, benefits, and affordable health insurance.  Let's talk about the workers that 1199 are supporting. These workers purchase supplies with their own money to do the jobs they are being underpaid to do.  Talks have been going on for nine months, but 1199 has just started. It's time to buckle up and push forward,” said William Burgess, Monroe County Legislator.  

 

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services notes that The Pearl Nursing Center is a 1 star facility.

 

According to Medicare.gov, The Pearl Nursing Center of Rochester is owned by Jacob Abramczyk, Naftoli Abramczyk, Gabriel Platschek, Sima Shapiro, and Scott Wheeler.  However, the New York State Department of Health is reviewing a Certificate of Need filed by Brooklyn based Eminent Care Group^[1] to take over operations of the nursing home^[2] in Rochester.  The Certificate of Need cites Eminent Care Group owners as Efraim Siegfried, Yaakov Geldzahler, and Chaim Ausch. Workers report that Eminent Care has taken over day to day operations at the facility. 

 

1199SEIU members at The Pearl Nursing Center in Rochester work as Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Cooks, Secretaries, Activities Aides, Laundry Workers, Dietary Workers, Maintenance Workers, and Housekeepers. 

 

Both sides are set to return to bargaining on Tuesday, February 24^th.  If talks continue to stall with management, workers say they will organize additional protests and engage the public to help improve their working conditions and to win a fair contract. 

 

Other Rochester area nursing home workers are also fighting for union contracts. The contract covering 1199SEIU members at Rochester Regional’s Unity Living Center^[1] expired July 31, 2025. Last week, workers unanimously voted to authorize their committee to issue a 10-day notice to picket if settlement could not be reached soon. Unity Living Center workers are set to return to bargaining February 18th.  

 

Union nursing home workers at Unity Living Center in Rochester work as Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Activity Aides, Unit Secretaries and Physical Therapy Aides. 

 

 

###

 

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.