Nursing home workers in Jersey City, Union City striking for contracts

[Sherman A1]

Steady rain did little to damper the spirits of striking healthcare workers in Jersey City and Union City yesterday morning.

More than 50 nursing home employees who are members of 1199 SEIU picketed outside two Alaris Health facilities — Castle Hill in Union City and HarborView in Jersey City — the first day of a three-day work stoppage.

They are two of four groups of strikers at Alaris nursing home facilities across North Jersey, including Guttenberg and Rochelle Park.

Front line workers at the nursing homes, including certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses have been without a contract for more than five months.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2014/09/nursing_home_workers_without_a.html

[merrily]

1. We cannot wish them well enough.

That is backbreaking, high stress work. For just one thing, if you couldn't wait for your kids to be toilet trained, imagine changing your very sick, very heavy grandfather's diapers and bed linens several times a day until he is discharged or passes.

Life and death situations every day, including deaths of patients, young and old, even tykes, of whom you have grown very fond. Almost like losing a good friend or cousin every few weeks or less. Dealing with patients who cannot help but be awful to deal with. And worse, some who can help it, but choose not to. If you are even a little bit empathetic, it's heartbreaking, too.

Sending every good wish I can muster to them. Solidarity in spades.