Caregivers from AristaCare at Cedar Oaks in South Plainfield gathered to picket for ongoing fight for higher wages.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD -- Sherry-Ann Ramkaran held a sign that said "honk for higher wages" and cars that passed, indeed, honked, giving the group of picketers a momentary boost in their effort to obtain higher wages and improved health insurance from their employer, AristaCare at Cedar Oaks.
Ramkaran, a certified nursing assistant at the South Plainfield AristaCare, was among 50 or 60 fellow caregivers who made up the picket in the afternoon on Thursday, which was the national day of action in the Fight for $15 movement. The group joined thousands of fellow union members along the East Coast in demanding for higher wages.
Outside the facility on Durham Road, the group held marched, signs in hand, chanting, clapping hands, with hugs of unity in their goal that they say is merely about having a wage they can live on to support their families.
But it wasn't just workers who came out to support the effort. Two residents of the nursing care facility also came to the front of the facility to join in and support their caregivers they say are like their family.
Nina Douglas, 69, had been a resident of the South Plainfield AristaCare for two years. Patricia Plonka, 61, had been there since mid-January, though she had stayed there several times before.
"We are here to support them because they work hard," Plonka said.
The workers were calling for "a contract guaranteeing quality health insurance and a path toward a $15 an hour wage," according to the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents the AristaCare employees.
Ramkaran said she often works 16-hour shifts just to make ends meet. The double shifts often take time away from her two kids.
And despite all the tireless hours, the money brought in from her husband's job; she said it is still difficult to pay the bills at the end of the month.
Ramkaran said she currently gets paid $13 an hour. And though two extra dollars to her salary may not seem like a lot, its impact in her life financially would be dramatic, she said.
The day before, Ramkaran said she hoped the picket would make an impact on AristaCare's management; she hope they might be realize, "You guys deserve a raise, you have been working hard for us, and we would like to take care (of you)."
"It's long, stenos house, with all different kinds of patients -- dementia, rehabilitation; (and) we grow close to them, we consider them part of our family," she said.
Sidney Greenberger, the CEO of AristaCare, could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday late afternoon. However, Karl Fritton, labor council to AristaCare, who is negotiating on behalf of the company, would not say whether the company planned to meet the union's demands.
"There is a lot that goes into contract negotiations," Fritton said. He added, "We are very understanding of their position; we've had a very good relationship with their union and we are confident that we will have a fair deal."
He wouldn't directly comment on the complaints waged by various caregivers who were at the picket who said they believed the company had not been treating them fairly.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.