For Immediate Release: October 26, 2016
Contact: Mindy Berman | 518.229.0486

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

For-Profit Owners, Upstate Service Group, Refuse to Provide Affordable Health and Retirement Benefits to Nursing Home Workers

WHAT: PROTEST VIGIL AT HUDSON PARK NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER

WHO: 1199SEIU HEALTHCARE WORKERS, ALBANY ELECTED OFFICIALS,CLERGY, COMMUNITY AND LABOR ALLIES

WHERE: 325 NORTHERN BLVD, ALBANY, NY

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26
3:15 P.M. - INTERVIEWS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SITE

Background:

When USG took over the former Julie Blair Nursing Home in 2011, the workers, members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, lost their health and pension benefits. They are currently in contract negotiations. The employer has refused to consider affordable health benefits or a pension. Currently, only 37 workers can afford to purchase the insurance offered by the employer. At today’s protest, the workers will be making the following points:

• It's well documented that staff turnover has a significant impact on continuity of care, which nursing home residents depend on. Yet, Hudson Park has difficulty retaining staff. Hudson Park cannot provide continuity of care to residents, when there is frequent staff turnover.

• One of the reasons workers leave is because Hudson Park offers inadequate and unaffordable health benefits. Nursing home workers need good health benefits so that they are not sick when caring for residents, many who have weak immune systems.

• After doing back-breaking work for years, sustaining many injuries, the workers and their supporters say they deserve a secure pension upon retirement.

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.