In order to achieve the best contracts, we knew that bringing all our employers together would help us use our collective strength to set statewide standards for quality care and quality jobs. They agreed to meet together in January for our opening presentation, but we knew it would be difficult to get them all to the same table to continue bargaining. We are now using the same global proposals with each employer separately with the goal of bringing them all back together again at the end.
At this point we have held bargaining sessions with Golden Living Center, Extendicare, Genesis, some independent facilities. We have set dates with Reliant in early March and Global in late March are working hard to schedule sessions with Guardian. We have received our first wage proposal from Genesis – a lump sum bonus in March, 2013 and 15 cents a year starting in March, 2014. We know they can do better.
What’s Next?
Harrisburg Speak Out for Quality Care and Quality Jobs: Monday, March 18Â – On Monday, March 18, we will head to Harrisburg to tell our legislators we also need to demand adequate funding for nursing home care and legislation that will focus on improving staffing, ensuring Medicaid funds are used primarily for resident care and tracking turnover rates for RNs, LPNs, and CNAs.
Statewide Day of Action: Thursday, March 21: In order to move negotiating along, we need to let our employers know we are All In to Win until the end. Right now, we holding votes in our facilities to commit to a Statewide Day of Action on Thursday, March 21. On that date we will send a strong, unified message to our employers that we are united to bargain the best contracts.