After a two and a half years of trying to gain employer recognition for their union, nursing home workers at Broomall Presbyterian Village overwhelmingly ratified their contract on Friday, December 21, 2012.  Gaining union recognition has not been easy for the 130 Broomall employees, who first voted to form their union in  April, 2010, and then a second time in July 2012 following a one day unfair labor practice strike in April 2011 and then another in December 2011.
But the new contract, which expires in 2013, not only guarantees union recognition and protects against unfair discipline, it also establishes across the board wage increases, safe staffing language and contributions to workers’ pensions. “There were times throughout the last few years I thought we would never succeed in securing our union contract,” said Sandra Hutson, CNA ,”But we did not give up and emerged on the other side with a contract that protects our union and works to improve care for our residents. This is something we can all be thankful for this holiday season.”