Employees at five Western New York nursing homes returned to work Tuesday after a week-long strike, and they returned without a deal.
Workers represented by 1199SEIU protested what they call unfair labor practices.
Contracts expired for the workers at Absolut Care in Gasport, Northgate Manor, Garden Gate Manor and the Elderwood Facilities in Lockport and Williamsville.
1199SEIU says they continue to request a meeting with Elderwood owners Dr. Jeffrey Rubin and Warren Cole, and claim management has not met with employees since January.
“I would tell Dr. Rubin and them, they should probably try to trade places with us. See how they do in the conditions we deal with, the short staffing and the people that are getting taken care of. We’re in here day in and day out, taking care of them like they’re our own families,” Angel Hillman, housekeeping aide at Elderwood at Lockport, said in a statement.
The McGuire Group, which owns the Garden Gate, Northgate and Absolut Care facilities, issued a statement last week, saying in part:
"We want to reassure our residents, their families, and the broader community that we are fully prepared and committed to maintaining the highest standards of care during this time. Staffing levels remain strong and stable. Our team has proactively implemented staffing plans that leverage our dedicated non-union nursing staff, as well as experienced personnel from our other facilities across Western New York and throughout the state. Our residents' well-being remains our top priority. As negotiations continue, we are looking forward to reaching an agreement with 1199SEIU — one that fairly recognizes the dedication of our employees while maintaining the financial sustainability required to continue our mission of delivering high-quality, person-centered care. We thank our staff, residents, and families for their support and understanding during this period."
