myUHW Nursing Home/Convalescent

EMERYVILLE, CA - More than 1,000 workers from 50 California nursing homes signed a letter delivered to the former officials of their union with a plain message: Get out of our facilities and stop putting our future and our union at risk.

The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), delivered the letter Monday to former union President Sal Rosselli, who along with the other former officials were ousted from the union more than a year ago for misusing millions in union funds and violating members' democratic rights.

On February 6, more than 60 nursing home leaders from 51 facilities came together and signed an open letter to NUHW demanding that they immediately withdraw their decertification petitions and stop putting our union and future at risk.

The open letter to Sal Rosselli read in part:

We are writing to demand that you immediately withdraw your decertification petition at our nursing homes. It was only a matter of time before your decision to file election petitions put our union and our future at risk. Now, some employers are looking to take advantage of the situation by trying to bust our union altogether. Managers and outside paid union-busters are holding mandatory group meetings and individually pressuring our union brothers and sisters to vote "no union."

Fresno nursing home workers at Golden Cross Health Care celebrated as they voted to rejoin SEIU-UHW. Management at the facility had engaged in a multi-year campaign in which they withdrew recognition of the union, refused to negotiate, all while taking away holidays, guaranteed pay raises and other benefits from employees.

Increases in Pay and Health Benefits Highlight New 3 Year Deal

Congratulations to the SEIU-UHW members at Pratap Poddatoori! After a series of tough negotiations with management, Pratap Poddatoori nursing home workers won a new three year agreement with significant increases in wages and health care benefits. The agreement covers all four Poddatoori homes, Elmwood, Kyakameena, San Leandro and Willow Pass.

Management Was Going Back on Word, Not Implementing Pay Raises

On December 2, SEIU-UHW members at Windsor Homes settled their new contract once and for all. Management agreed to implement everything from the tentative agreement workers voted for back on October 20, including the wage increase schedule that the Windsor bargaining committee had fought so hard to win.

On November 17, O'Connor Woods workers held a candlelight vigil and march, publicly demanding that management work with them to settle a fair contract. More than 70 workers and community members lit up the evening as they walked to the offices of the Diocese of Stockton, where they asked Bishop Blaire to stand with them in their struggle. The vigil received significant attention, and a long article appeared the next day in the Stockton Record.

Facility management spent hundreds of thousands fighting union, instead of investing in quality care

Stockton, CA - Community members joined with workers from O'Connor Woods nursing home care at a candlelight vigil to protest the misuse of resources by O'Connor Woods management. Over the past couple of years, management at O'Connor Woods, rather than making investments that ultimately benefit the residents, has directed significant resources on lawyers and consultants, nearly half a million dollars in 2007 alone, much of it to further drag out a four-year effort by workers to secure a new contract.

Bulletin for Nursing Home Members

More than 1,700 member leaders from across California met in Anaheim on October 15-17 to open the next chapter in the history of our union, building a true workers organization where members take action to create a better future for ourselves, our families, and the people we serve.

Fresh off their vote to stay in SEIU-UHW, and faced with a management that refuses to move forward in bargaining, O'Connor Woods workers are reaching out to the community in Stockton and beyond for support. They are circulating a letter and petition that will be delivered to the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, who oversee the retirement community.

After months of tough negotiations with management, SEIU-UHW members at Windsor nursing homes in Monterey County and Fremont have ratified a new contract with significant wage increases. 93% of Windsor workers voted on October 20th to approve the agreement.

Nursing Home Members Fight for Increased Funding

SEIU-UHW nursing home members were in Sacramento the week of September 7 meeting with state legislators and their staff to push for Assembly Bill 411, a bill that would increase federal funding for California nursing homes.

SEIU has been the leader in securing nursing home funding ever since we worked to pass AB 1629 in 2004, dramatically increasing the resources available to facilities that were willing to improve wages and staffing. Since then, SEIU nursing home members have made tremendous strides to improve the quality of care to thousands of frail seniors and people with disabilities throughout the state.

Wage improvements, retro pay, improved healthcare are highlights

SEIU-UHW members at five Evergreen nursing home facilities approved a strong new contract on Thursday, September 24, by a vote of 151 to 2. The agreement contains significant pay raises, retro pay, and strong new contract language against subcontracting.