Conn. nursing home strike may be hurting care; Judge rules nursing home operator violated federal law

The CT Mirror reports workers are protesting cuts to their benefits, but some say care is suffering because of the strike.

CT Mirror: Families Say Care Suffering As Nursing Home Workers Strike
Danbury Health Care Center is one of five nursing homes owned by a for-profit New Jersey-based nursing home chain, HealthBridge Management/Care One. On July 3, more than 160 employees went on strike to protest the imposition of a new compensation package that cuts caregivers' wages and other job benefits. Nurses, aides and support staff from four other HealthBridge nursing homes in Milford, Newington, Stamford and Westport are also on strike. As union workers picketing in shifts from early morning to late at night, HealthBridge has hired replacement workers to ensure the centers continue providing what the company terms the highest quality care (Masroor, 7/27).

CT Mirror: Judge Rules HealthBridge Violated Federal Law
Administrative Law Judge Steven Davis, in a 23-page ruling issued July 20, agreed with the National Labor Relations Board and New England Healthcare Employees Union, District 1199, that HealthBridge violated the National Labor Relations Act by preventing workers from wearing stickers or distributing flyers advertising that HealthBridge has been the subject of a labor board complaint. But in the second issue, the judge sided with HealthBridge. Since the company's contract with its five Connecticut health care centers -- in Danbury, Milford, Newington, Stamford and Westport -- expired March 16, 2011, the homes stopped deducting union dues from the employees' paychecks. The company also refused to remit those funds to the union (Masroor, 7/27).