Union: Strike averted at Lower Burrell nursing home, 17 others; workers still set to walk out at 18 facilities

A strike has been averted at a Lower Burrell nursing home and 17 others across the state after a tentative contract was reached between the company and the union representing its employees.

But workers at 18 additional nursing homes operated by other companies involved in contract talks, including ones in North Huntingdon, Murrysville and Monroe­ville, still plan to walk off the job in the coming weeks if a labor agreement is not reached, SEIU Healthcare PA union officials said.

Workers at 10 facilities owned by Guardian Healthcare, which includes Belair Healthcare & Rehab on Little Drive in Lower Burrell, had announced Aug. 23 that a strike was authorized for Friday over claims of unfair labor practices and a lack of accountability, according to union officials.

Employees at eight other Guardian-owned nursing homes in the state subsequently voted to join the others in announcing a strike.

All of those were part of the negotiations that resulted in a tentative pact being reached between the company and the Services Employees International Union.

The union still is negotiating with the owners of Comprehensive Healthcare, which operates The Grove at Irwin in North Huntingdon and three others in the state that authorized a strike.

On Tuesday, the union announced that Murrysville Rehab and Wellness Center and Monroeville Rehab and Wellness Center, also owned by Comprehensive, authorized a walkout for Sept. 9 if an agreement is not reached.

By law, the union must give nursing home administrators at least 10 days’ notice before going on strike.

The Meadows at Gettysburg and The Meadows at Camp Hill, both owned by Priority Healthcare, joined nine other of the company’s nursing homes in authorizing strikes, union officials said.

Union officials alleged that the operators of the facilities received about $600 million in state funding for staffing, wages and resident care but have refused to provide details about how the money is being spent.

The nursing home operators also were accused by the union of failing to bargain in good faith by offering raises that are lower than last year’s despite the infusion of cash from the state.

SEIU Healthcare PA said the $600 million from the state is taxpayer money and requires the facilities to spend 70% of it to fund staffing and bedside care.

“We have been committed to building a fair contract that invests in caregivers and the staffing our residents need,” said Karen Hipple, a licensed practical nurse at the Guardian facility in Oil City. “Being a nursing home worker has been extremely difficult, especially over the last few years. We are thankful that we were able to work with Guardian and reach this agreement that demonstrates a commitment to workers and provides what we need to care for our residents and our own families.”

Guardian employees are scheduled to vote this week on whether to ratify the tentative labor deal, officials said. Details of the agreement are being withheld until after employees have a chance to review and vote on the proposal, union officials said.

The union’s bargaining committee, which comprises employees from the facilities involved in the negotiations, unanimously recommended that workers ratify the contract.

While the final compensation package has not been released, the union was negotiating for a $16 hourly wage for dietary, housekeeping and support staff; $20 hourly for certified nursing assistants; and $25 an hour for licensed practical nurses along with increases based on seniority.

They also sought, among other things, employer-paid medical coverage and assurances that an existing contract would carry on if a facility is sold.

“We have worked hard to reach a fair agreement with SEIU that shows Guardian’s continued commitment to our team members,” said Michael J. Herald, president and CEO of Guardian Healthcare. “We recognize the crucial role they play in caring for the residents in the many communities we serve and look forward to quickly ratifying the agreement as we continue our efforts to make Guardian an employer of choice in skilled nursing care.”

The 18 Guardian nursing homes covered by the tentative labor agreement are:

• Belair Healthcare & Rehab, Lower Burrell

• Beaver Valley Healthcare & Rehab, Beaver Falls

• Clarion Health & Rehab, Clarion

• Meyersdale Healthcare & Rehab, Meyersdale

• Oil City Healthcare & Rehab, Oil City

• Riverside Rehab & Nursing, Taylor

• Titusville Healthcare & Rehab, Titusville

• Uniontown Healthcare & Rehab, Uniontown

• Guardian Elder Care at Nanticoke

• Richland Healthcare & Rehab, Johnstown

• Haida Health & Rehab, Hastings

• Kinzua Health & Rehab, Warren

• Meadowcrest Health & Rehab, Bethel Park

• Meadowview Health & Rehab, Montrose

• Walnut Creek Health & Rehab, Erie

• Waynesburg Health & Rehab, Waynesburg

• Western Reserve Health & Rehab, Erie

• William Penn Health & Rehab, Lewistown

The nursing homes that still are scheduled to strike are:

Comprehensive Healthcare

• The Grove at Irwin, North Huntingdon

• The Grove at New Castle, New Castle

• The Grove at Harmony, Harmony

• The Grove at Washington, Washington

• Murrysville Rehab and Wellness Center

• Monroeville Rehab and Wellness Center

Priority Healthcare

• The Meadows at Blue Ridge, Camp Hill

• The Meadows at West Shore, Camp Hill

• The Gardens at Easton/Praxis, Easton

• Rose City Nursing & Rehab at Lancaster

• The Meadows at York Terrace, Pottsville

• Fairlane Gardens Nursing & Rehab at Reading

• The Gardens at Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre

• The Gardens at East Mountain, Wilkes-Barre

• The Meadows at Stroud, East Stroudsburg

• The Meadows at Gettysburg, Gettysburg

• The Meadows at Camp Hill, Camp Hill

Other ownership

• Shenandoah Heights Healthcare, Shenandoah