CHICAGO — Representatives of more than 5,000 nursing home workers across 53 nursing homes in Chicagoland said Wednesday they plan to strike next week over "fair wages, staffing levels that ensure quality care for residents, and dignity on the job regardless of immigration status."
"Workers have been negotiating in good faith for a permanent contract for more than a year," Service Employee International Union (SEIU) said in a statement issues on their website. "Dozens of unfair labor practice (ULP) complaints have been filed against nursing homes for refusing to provide information legally required for good faith bargaining, as well as other violations of the National Labor Relations Act."
"Despite receiving about $1 billion in revenue each year and an increasing number of residents, for-profit nursing home owners have refused to significantly raise staffing levels and are refusing to pay wages above the Chicago minimum wage," they said. "Illinois nursing home owners come under heightened scrutiny for improper patient discharges and inadequate staffing care."
After the official public strike announcement was made, the Union and Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities said they planned to return to the table for the last scheduled contract negotiations, overseen by a federal mediator.
