Release: Critically Low Staffing Levels Force Centers Nursing Home Workers To Picket Tmrw to Protect Care For Residents, Thurs, 6/8 from 11am-1pm

June 8, 2023

PRESS RELEASE: Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Contact: April.Ezzell@1199.org, 1199SEIU Communications (716) 449-1620

Interview & Visual Opportunity

Tomorrow:  1199SEIU Nursing Home Workers at 
Rochester Center For Rehabilitation & Nursing 
To Hold Informational Picket 
Over Chronic Short Staffing, Low Wages, and Benefits 

Caregivers say lack of competitive wages from Bronx-based Centers Health Care contribute to chronic low staffing levels.  Service workers earning near minimum wage as employer wants to eliminate critical healthcare benefits caregivers need in lieu of small wage increase.


WHO:  Nursing Home Workers, Community Supporters, President of the Monroe County Legislature Sabrina Lamar, City Council Vice-President Mary Lupien, City Council member Lashay Harris, County Legislator Carolyn Delvecchio, County Legislator William Burgess, and County Legislator Mercedes Vazques Simmons

 

WHAT: Informational Picket

 

WHEN Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 11:00am-1:00pm
Press Event 12 noon

 

WHERE: Rochester Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing 
525 Beahan Road, Rochester, NY 14624

 

WHY?

More than 40 union nursing home workers at Rochester Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Center will hold an informational picket on Thursday, June 8.  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.  Most service workers are earning near minimum wage making it hard to care for their families.  The for-profit employer is also demanding critical cuts to healthcare benefits that workers need to take care of themselves and their families in lieu of a small wage increase.  

 

Workers say a lack of dignity and respect on the job lead to chronic short staffing.  “I have been doing this for 16 years and I have a passion for what I do,” said Marvia Mighty, Certified Nurse Assistant.   “We work so hard and we don’t feel that our voices are being heard.  We go through a lot – both physically and mentally. We deserve to be paid more for what we do, all to provide care to our residents. They are trying to distract us by offering small things, rather than a decent raise so that we can keep more staff and care for our families,” said Mighty.

 

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. 

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.