The unionized caregivers at a Perth Amboy nursing home will be joined by the city mayor when they protest layoffs Thursday.
PERTH AMBOY -- Mayor Wilda Diaz will be joining nursing home employees Thursday afternoon at the Alameda Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare who will be protesting the layoff of 18 employees.
"Perth Amboy depends on skilled caregivers to provide quality care to our city's most vulnerable residents," the mayor said in a statement. "Many of the employees at Alameda are residents of our city and the announced job cuts have an impact on our local economy. It is vital that Alameda continues to invest in stable jobs and good service for all its patients. I urge Alameda to negotiate a fair contract with their employees and their union."
The nursing home employees, the facility's caregivers, belong to a union, 1199SEIU, which is currently negotiating a new contract with Alameda's new owners, according to a report on MyCentralJersey.com.
The report said the nursing home was previously AristaCare at Alameda Center and new ownership took over in April 2016.
The article said the 250-bed nursing home is nearing full capacity, according to the union.
The protest is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. outside the nursing home at 303 Elm Street.
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