Picketers gathered outside the Alameda Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare on Thursday to protest the recent layoffs of employees from the nursing facility. Watch video
PERTH AMBOY -- With many still in their uniforms, the group picketed up and down Elm Street, chanting and clapping, to send a message to the new owner of their health care facility: they would not be pushed around.
Roughly 50 nursing home employees from the Alameda Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare gathered Thursday afternoon to protest the recent layoff of 18 employees by the facility's new owner, Eli Frankel, who purchased the nursing home in April. The facility was previously owned by AristaCare at Alameda Center.
Mayor Wilda Diaz came out to the facility to show her solidarity with the workers while also saying she was hopeful a contract could be settled.
Diaz said many of the caregivers are local residents with families they need to support.
"These are families that live here and for our local economy, it's important they have roofs over their heads, food on their tables and are able to support their families," she said.
The union representing the caregivers is 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which is attempting to negotiate a new contract with the facility's new owners, according to union representatives who noted that bringing management to the table had been a struggle.
A secretary at the front desk inside the facility said management was not available for comment.
Diaz said she is planned to make herself available to the new owners and to the union to try and mediate between them.
"I want to sit down with all the parties involved, and I am very hopeful that this will be settled," she said. "I am offering my assistance to them."
Diaz then went inside the facility and talked behind closed doors with some of the higher ups.
Bryn Lloyd-Bollard, a spokesman for 1199SEIU, who was at Thursday's rally, said since April there had only been two bargaining sessions so far with management.
Lloyd-Bollard said the union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday over allegations of unfair labor practices.
"Ever since new ownership took over we've been having issues maintaining standards of quality of care and jobs at this facility," he said.
He said one major issue was management's decision to stop contributions to nurses' retirement plans, and adding that "they have also quadrupled their health insurance copayments for dietary workers." Management, he added, is obligated to discuss that type of decision with the union before making such a change.
Ron McCalla, assistant division director/vice president for 1199SEIU, spoke enthusiastically to the group, saying, "Folks you've worked too long, to hard, for too many years making this nursing home what it is today, to have a new owner come into the community and cut the benefits you have (earned)." He then yelled, "Let's send Frankel a message!"
One of the employees let go recently was Lillian Martinez, of New Brunswick, who received her layoff notice in the mail just after returning from vacation. She had worked at the nursing home for two years and said she wasn't given a reason for being let go.
"They don't want to give us a reason," Martinez said with the picketers chanting in the backdrop. "I was not expecting this. They don't appreciate their workers, they don't even care about the workers."
William Vazquez, of Edison, was at the rally with his 82-year-old mother, Aida Perez, who has been living at the facility since April. He said the management should recognize how hard the employees work and how vital they are -- not only in the lives of the residents -- but in the lives of residents' families as well.
"They provide a great service for the elderly," he said, his mother sitting in a wheelchair by his side. "As children, we cannot always provide for them with our own families to support. They work hard and do a lot ... and I think they should be compensated for the services they provide."
He added, "The Bible says a worker is worthy of their wage -- (and) they put in good work."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.