Nursing Home Workers with SEIU/1199 Educational Picket Monday 12/15

Nursing Home Workers need help: Mon 12/15 11am-4pm picket Westgate Nursing Home
(Especially want people to arrive at 3pm for rally)

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Upstate New York Division
Service Employees International Union
225 West Broad Street, Suite B
Rochester, New York 14608
Telephone: (585)-244-0830
Fax: (585)-244-0956
Website: www.1199seiu.org

MEDIA RELEASE DECEMBER 10, 2008

WORKERS TO PICKET WESTGATE NURSING HOME

CONTRACT TALKS STALL OVER WAGES AND BENEFITS

(Gates, New York) - Employees of Westgate Nursing Home intend to hold an informational picket on Monday, December 15 if a settlement is not reached at the next contract negotiating meeting scheduled for this Thursday. Eighty staff of the facility are involved in the talks. They work as licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, dietary, housekeeping, and other service assistants.

"Pay and benefits for these caregivers are the lowest in the area."
said Todd Hobler, the union's vice-president and chief negotiator. "A typical nursing assistant at Westgate makes $9.05 per hour with no employer sponsored health insurance, no paid vacation, no sick time, and no pension.
Some employees make even less. These are important jobs in our community
- caring for the sick and elderly. These workers deserve better."

Westgate employees formed a union in 2004, and began contract negotiations in 2005. Talks have been ongoing since then. Employees have not received a raise in pay in more than five years. Westgate is offering a one year contract with no increase in pay nor benefits.

A Federal Mediator is expected to join the talks when they resume on Thursday.

Westgate Nursing Home is a 124 bed, for-profit long tern care facility located at 525 Beahan Road in Gates, New York. It is owned by Dennis Christiano, a Pittsford businessman with interests in Aaron Manor Nursing Center in Penfield, New York, as well as other assisted living and senior housing establishments.

The workers are members of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. 1199 SEIU members in the Rochester area work at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Jordan Health Center, Wesley Gardens Nursing Home, Latta Road Nursing Homes, and at Blossom, Blossom North, and Blossom South Nursing Centers.

For further information, please contact Dana Alas at (585)
738-2698 (cellphone).