Union to temporarily extend contracts, threatens strike (CT nursing homes)

[struggle4progress]

Associated Press

March 15, 2005


HARTFORD, Conn. -- Hours before labor contracts were to expire at 34 Connecticut nursing homes, the union representing about 3,700 workers offered Tuesday to extend their deals for about a month.

But Jerome P. Brown, president of the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, said the union won't be patient for very long. <snip>

The last time such a large number of nursing home contracts expired, in 2001, the union waged strikes at 39 facilities. Some workers were on the picket lines for more than a month.

Brown said he is still hopeful agreements can be reached with the nursing home owners. But he criticized them for offering cutbacks in pay and benefits, or avoiding negotiations. <snip>

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-15170417.apds.m0675.bc-ct--nursmar15,0,223023.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

[struggle4progress]

1. Nursing home workers to continue without contract

By Tobin A. Coleman
Staff Writer

March 16, 2005

HARTFORD -- <snip>

Contracts at the nursing homes expired at midnight for the 3,742 workers organized under the New England Health Care Workers Union District 1199. <snip>

Brown said he offered the contract extension yesterday because conditions are different than they were in 2001, when workers struck nursing homes around the state. Then-Gov. John Rowland responded by spending $30 million to hire replacement workers, a move that broke the strike but later was ruled illegal by the courts. <snip>

Brown said the nursing home owners have not bargained in good faith. He acknowledged that it was difficult for the owners to agree to wage increases until they know how much money the state will pay. <snip>

About 75 percent of nursing home costs are paid by the state through Medicaid. <snip>

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.nursinghome4mar16,0,2533303.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines