After three months of failed negotiations, workers are tired of double shifts
Swansea & Fall River, MA - Frontline union caregivers at Country Gardens and Carvalho Grove Nursing Homes will hold simultaneous informational pickets Wednesday, September 18th from 2:30 - 4:00 PM. Nursing home workers, who are members of SEIU 1199 New England, have been negotiating unsuccessfully with their employer, Alpha Healthcare, for the last three months. Negotiations have failed to produce any commitment from management for improving wages, benefits and working conditions to lift workers out of poverty and stabilize staff. Low wages and short staffing have forced existing workers to work double shifts to earn enough to pay the bills.
Alpha Healthcare purchased both facilities from Bear Mountain in October of 2023. Alpha Healthcare currently owns five other nursing home facilities in Massachusetts. Immediately following the purchase, employees began experiencing significant payroll issues including late pay and checks being deposited into the accounts of other workers.
Since bargaining began, management has refused to offer workers fair compensation for the difficult work they do, which has compounded the long-standing staffing issues that predated the pandemic. SEIU 1199NE represents around 120 workers at both facilities.
Alpha Healthcare purchased both facilities from Bear Mountain in October of 2023. Alpha Healthcare currently owns five other nursing home facilities in Massachusetts. Immediately following the purchase, employees began experiencing significant payroll issues including late pay and checks being deposited into the accounts of other workers.
Since bargaining began, management has refused to offer workers fair compensation for the difficult work they do, which has compounded the long-standing staffing issues that predated the pandemic. SEIU 1199NE represents around 120 workers at both facilities.
- WHAT: Country Gardens & Carvalho Grove Nursing Home Joint Informational Pickets for a Fair Contract
- WHERE: Country Gardens: 2045 Grand Army Hwy, Swansea, MA 02777 | Carvalho Grove: 273 Oak Grove Ave, Fall River, MA 0272
- WHEN: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 | 2:30 - 4:00 PM
- WHO: Frontline caregivers who are members of SEIU 1199NE as well as community supporters
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District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 5,000 members.1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.
