Caregivers at Allegheny Lutheran Home, a nursing home in Johnstown, are the newest members of our union after voting to unite for a voice at work and quality care for their residents.
“With Medicaid funding under pressure in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., it’s more important than ever for nursing home workers to unite to protect our residents and our jobs,” said Jeanette Bottorff, a CNA at the Lutheran Home. “As people who are fortunate to have a job, forming a union is how we are standing up for the 99%.”
Jeanette made her co-workers’ concern for their residents crystal clear in an interview on the Rick Smith Show.
For nursing home workers, quality care for residents is always the top priority. The problem is that too often, low wages, expensive benefits and poor staffing lead to high turnover and low morale.
“Our residents need us to come to work healthy and able to do our very best,” said Chyrle Kormanik, a restorative aide with 34 years experience at the Lutheran Home. “Our union means we will be able to bargain for affordable healthcare, pay raises and better working conditions so we have a strong and dependable workforce.”
Jeanette and Chyrle look forward to joining the other nursing home workers in our union and working together to improve standards for both residents and workers across Pennsylvania.
For their part, workers at the Presbyterian Home in Johnstown are eager to welcome their new brothers and sisters.
“The more nursing workers unite, the louder we can make our voice heard for quality care for our residents and quality jobs for our communities,” said Tracie Graham, a CNA from the Presbyterian Home in Johnstown.