CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Workers at Dauphin County nursing home among those planning strike next week

Patriot-News - 7/19/2021

Nurses and other caregivers at The Gardens at Blue Ridge in Susquehanna Township say they will hold a one-day strike next Tuesday over issues including starting pay and staffing levels. They are among the staffers at a half-dozen or more nursing homes around the state that plan to picket from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The caregivers, who are represented by the Service Employees International Union, say they are striking over issues including nursing homes’ failure to raise starting pay enough to overcome what they called severe staffing shortages. They say the shortages prevent them from doing things such as turning residents often enough to prevent bed sores and changing under garments often enough to prevent urinary infections. They also are pushing the state to raise the required minimum amount of daily care to 4.1 hours. Pennsylvania regulations presently require 2.7 hours.

State lawmakers recently budgeted $247 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to address things including staffing levels and pay and benefits for staff.

However, the SEIU said in a news release the average annual turnover rate is well over 100% and “employers’ offers do not address the low starting wages that make it impossible to recruit enough caregivers.”

READ MORE: Workers at two central Pa. nursing homes vote to authorize a strike

READ MORE: New Pa. budget lessens nursing home concerns, but doesn’t immediately quell possible strikes

©2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.