Employees at Streator's Parker Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are returning to work Monday after 12 days on strike.
SEIU Healthcare, the union representing the 36 workers at Parker, said Friday its bargaining team had reached a tentative agreement with the nursing home's owner Infinity Healthcare on a three-year contract.
Calling it a victory for the workers, the agreement includes a $1 per hour minimum raise for all workers, a $2 per hour raise on average, raises for workers in years two and three of the deal and guarantees of more proper protective equipment availability on job sites, among other items, said Greg Kelley, president of the SEIU Healthcare Illinois union.
The contract is expected to be ratified Sunday.
Workers at 11 Infinity nursing homes in the Chicago area, including Parker in Streator, walked off the job Nov. 23 for better wages and safer working conditions.
Infinity did not release a statement Friday. A message was left with the company Friday night.
"It was a great day (Friday) to get a tentative agreement," said Tina Hjerpe, restorative CNA at Parker Nursing and Rehabilitation in Streator, during a video press conference Friday hosted by her union. "I miss my residents so much. My co-workers and myself held strong for 12 days, we were willing to go on longer if it took us longer to get through this. We're so glad to go back Monday, because I miss my residents so much and I can't wait to get back."
Hjerpe said three days into the strike a co-worker named Jonathan, who had a newborn baby, was listed as a no-call, no-show and fired from his position.
"(Friday) he was put on the list to get his job back," Hjerpe said. "I was so excited to tell him."
Kelley said the agreement also included an increase from $2 to $2.50 per hour pandemic pay for facilities where any future COVID-19 activity is verified.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Parker Nursing Home has had 32 reported cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic and one death. That outbreak is considered a closed case, however.
The sister of a Parker resident participated in a press conference Thursday voicing her concerns.
Heather Tvrz, the older sister of Blaine Passini, said it was bad enough family can't have face-to-face visits with Blaine, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2015, but couldn't go into the Streator nursing home and pick up the slack where workers weren't able to do what those striking normally do. Contracted workers were hired by Infinity to continue operations at the nursing homes, according to the union.
"When we couldn't visit and they had their normal workers there, they know him," Tvrz said. "We depend on the workers that know him, that we watched take care of him correctly for a long time. Not only can we not see him, we now have to worry if he's going to get a bedsore, or if he's getting a shower."
Kelley said he shared the tentative agreement during a town hall video conference with many of the workers on strike, and they were happy with the deal.
"When they return, it'll be a family reunion," Kelley said.
"strike" - Google News
December 05, 2020 at 10:34AM
https://ift.tt/36G5Y2H
Parker nursing home strike is over; workers reach a 3-year-deal with raises - LaSalle News Tribune
"strike" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2WheuPk
https://ift.tt/2VWImBB
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Parker nursing home strike is over; workers reach a 3-year-deal with raises - LaSalle News Tribune"
Post a Comment