GASPORT — Samantha Metz, a certified nurse’s aide at Absolut Care was on the picket line Tuesday by Gasport Road, along with nearly 30 of her coworkers from the 1199SEIU.
“I came here to be closer to my daughter’s school,” Metz said of her job. “Most of my money comes from overtime.”
Metz works 50 to 60 hours a week, dressing, washing, lifting, and assisting nursing home patients. As a single head of household earning $17.82 an hour, she said she needs to work the extra hours to afford her rent of $900.
“I can’t go anywhere elsewhere because it’s over $1,200 (in rent),” she said.
Nursing home workers belonging to the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union at five facilities in the Western New York area went on strike Tuesday. In Niagara County, this included housekeeping staff, dietary workers, activity aides, certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and physical and occupational therapists at Absolut Care of Gasport and Elderwood at Lockport.
Shameka Burnette-Mathews, administrative organizer for 1199SEIU, said that owners of Newfane Rehabilitation and Health Center avoided a strike Monday evening by agreeing to a 10-step wage scale.
“That will allow our members to get pay increases more rapidly,” Burnette-Mathews said.
Propublica, a non-profit news organization, lists that the average 12-month turnover for nursing staff in New York state nursing homes is 41%.
Absolut Care of Gasport is a for-profit nursing home owned by the McGuire Group. Grace Bogdanove, vice president for 1199SEIU, said Monday that negotiations with the nursing home had stalled, with the McGuire Group holding to their last offer from a month ago. Bogdanove said the owners have not invested in the facility and staff, which is an issue in negotiations.
In a written statement, the company said, “The McGuire Group has made significant investments in staffing, wages, and benefits over the past several years — investments that reflect our belief that a supported, well-compensated workforce is central to delivering excellent care. You can trace this commitment back to March of 2020 when Absolut Care of Gasport was assumed under the management contract, addressing the disparity in wages day one.”
Dave Fronczak of Tonawanda and his wife dropped off a pizza to the picket line at Elderwood at Lockport Tuesday morning before visiting a family member in the residence. When told what Metz and other CNAs earn, Fronczak said, “It’s an extremely difficult job, and people depend on them. It’s just a joke for $17. It’s a tough job. They should get $24-25.”
Elderwood at Lockport is owned by Post Acute Partners, which also owns companies under the Elderwood name that provide home care, medical transportation, and Medicaid management in addition to its for-profit residential nursing homes.
Burnette-Mathews said the company has its own temporary staffing agency, and temporary workers are being paid an additional $10 an hour during the strike.
Theresa McDowell, a CNA at Elderwood at Lockport, said her greatest concern is working short-staffed, which has compromised the level of care patients receive.
“We aren’t able to take care of our residents by being able to watch them,” she said. McDowell said that there are three to four patient falls a day when shifts are understaffed.
UAW president Michael DeLucas and shop committee member Ed Schneider joined the picket line in solidarity at Elderwood at Lockport.
“They were with us in ’19 when we were on strike, so we’re here when they’re on strike,” DeLucas said.