More than 50 1199SEIU caregivers and supporters picketed outside of Carlyle/ManorCare of Dulaney nursing home in Towson, Maryland to call attention to the failure of management to reach a fair contract agreement to improve the quality of care are 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.