MEDIA ADVISORY FOR SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
Cheswick, PA – On Monday, September 16th, nursing home workers – including frontline caregivers as well as laundry, dietary and maintenance – will be hitting the picket lines to call on their employer to improve staffing levels, increase available supplies, and make their workplace safer for residents and workers alike.
The fifty workers at Consulate of Cheswick – represented by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania – are in the midst of bargaining a new contract with Consulate, a profitable nursing home chain that owns and operates over 200 facilities in over 22 states across the US. Despite 1.6 billion dollars in revenue last year, workers face significant, proposed hikes in healthcare costs as well as reduction of wages and retirement benefits.
Despite potential losses in wages and benefits, workers’ primary concerns are health and safety issues for themselves and the residents associated with low staffing levels and the increased level of psychiatric patients intermingled with geriatric patients. To properly treat residents that have increasingly complex needs and aggressive behavior, caregivers are calling on Consulate to increase training opportunities and workplace safety measures.
What: Nursing home workers and community allies will hold informational picket for increased safety and staffing.
When: Monday, September 16th / 2:00 PM
Where: Consulate Health Care of Cheswick / 3876 Saxonburg Blvd. • Cheswick, PA • 15024