The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has delayed proceedings in a case to decide who will represent employees at one Michigan ManorCare home, citing "reasonable cause to believe" that management may have threatened or coerced employees in violation of their rights under federal law.  In a letter dated May 6, 2008, NLRB Region 7 concludes that because management's alleged unlawful actions could undermine "the free choice of employees," no representation proceeding can go forward until they are remedied.

An NLRB complaint dated April 30, 2008 charges that officials at the Michigan ManorCare facility, Hearland Health Care Center UNiversity, "coerively interrogated employees about their union views, threatened employees with adverse aciton for engaging in protected activities, and directed employees to sign an anti-union petition- all alleged violations of federal law.

SEIU condemns the unlawful conduct alleged in the NLRB's complaint.  Carlyle-ManorCare's time and resources should be spent providing quality care to seniors, not on a wasteful campaign against employees' federally protected right to choose a union.

 

More than 60 caregivers unite to call for a quality care contract that includes training, affordable family health care coverage. 

BALTIMORE, MD — SEIU members at the Towson, MD ManorCare facility have been working without a contract for months, struggling to negotiate for better wages, a training fund, affordable family health care, and a better pension plan. Their fight underlines Carlyle-ManorCare’s reluctance to invest real money in improving front-line conditions, so that Manor Care homes can attract and retain the stable, high-quality staff needed to provide the highest quality care.

Picketers called for Carlyle-ManorCare to keep its promises. Carlyle had issued a “Patients First Pledge” that included promises of providing training for caregivers, maintaining adequate staffing levels, and ensuring quality care.

Read the coverage on Baltimore's ABC 2.

Read Carlyle's "Quality Patient Care Pledge" (PDF)

More than 50 1199SEIU caregivers and supporters picketed outside of Carlyle/ManorCare of Dulaney Nursing Home in Towson, Maryland to call attention to improve the quality of care at the facility.

After months of negotiations, management refuses to budge on key issues including affordable family health care, a secure retirement and contributing to a training and upgrading fund to improve caregivers' skills. Workers currently pay between 7% and 27% of their average paycheck for health insurance. The average salary at the facility is around $16,000 per year.

Improving training, wages, and benefits could help reduce turnover and provide a stable, professional workforce to take quality care of residents.

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