WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Big Strike Averted, but Other Nursing Homes Still Brace for Walkout (New Haven-WTNH) _ Some major issues still need to be cleared up by Wednesday or workers at 6 Connecticut nursing homes are going on strike. Sunday night, union workers dropped their walkout threat against 43 nursing homes. But for the other 6 homes, there are other issues involved besides money. News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports. For Beverly Jenkins, Mondays are usually a time to enjoy a day off from work. But today, she's worried about just how secure her job is. Beverly Jenkins: "Jobs - right now we are not sure that we have our jobs, because no one wants to sit down and talk to us." She's worked for 21 years as a launderer at Chelsea Place Nursing Home. But new owners are about to take over the property, now Jenkins and other union members are worried about whether management will recognize them as a group. She and workers at 6 nursing homes are preparing to strike. "That's where our bread is coming from, so we are scared, we are worried about it, but we have to do what we have to do." Yesterday, union members voted to call off a strike set to start at 43 other nursing homes thanks to a $200 million offer from Governor John Rowland. But the other 6 facilities are not striking over money but rather because of what the union calls unfair labor practices. 3 of the homes are about to be sold, but for now are run by the state. Union leaders believe the state has the power to stop the strike. Jerome Brown, Local 1199: "The receiver has the ability to force the receiver to meet with us or decide not to sell. It's just that easy." As the head of the union, Jerome Brown is trying to convince the state to force the potential to meet with the union. Brown: "We want assurances from the new owners that they will hire the workers and will not cut their wages or their benefits." And if it doesn't work, union members like Beverly Jenkins say it will be hard, but they're prepared to picket until they get some assurances from new management. Beverly Jenkins: "As long as we hawve to be out there, we'll be out there. If it's a year, it's a year... We have to do what we have to do for ourselves for our dignity. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Big Strike Averted, but Other Nursing Homes Still Brace for Walkout
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Some major issues still need to be cleared up by Wednesday or workers at 6 Connecticut nursing homes are going on strike. Sunday night, union workers dropped their walkout threat against 43 nursing homes. But for the other 6 homes, there are other issues involved besides money.
News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports.

For Beverly Jenkins, Mondays are usually a time to enjoy a day off from work. But today, she's worried about just how secure her job is.

Beverly Jenkins: "Jobs - right now we are not sure that we have our jobs, because no one wants to sit down and talk to us."

She's worked for 21 years as a launderer at Chelsea Place Nursing Home. But new owners are about to take over the property, now Jenkins and other union members are worried about whether management will recognize them as a group. She and workers at 6 nursing homes are preparing to strike.

"That's where our bread is coming from, so we are scared, we are worried about it, but we have to do what we have to do."

Yesterday, union members voted to call off a strike set to start at 43 other nursing homes thanks to a $200 million offer from Governor John Rowland. But the other 6 facilities are not striking over money but rather because of what the union calls unfair labor practices. 3 of the homes are about to be sold, but for now are run by the state. Union leaders believe the state has the power to stop the strike.

Jerome Brown, Local 1199: "The receiver has the ability to force the receiver to meet with us or decide not to sell. It's just that easy."

As the head of the union, Jerome Brown is trying to convince the state to force the potential to meet with the union.

Brown: "We want assurances from the new owners that they will hire the workers and will not cut their wages or their benefits."

And if it doesn't work, union members like Beverly Jenkins say it will be hard, but they're prepared to picket until they get some assurances from new management.

Beverly Jenkins: "As long as we hawve to be out there, we'll be out there. If it's a year, it's a year... We have to do what we have to do for ourselves for our dignity.

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