They were joined at the “Justice for Spectrum Workers” rally by nursing home residents and their families, religious leaders, elected officials members and leaders of other unions, including the United Auto Workers, Connecticut State Employees Association (CSEA), United Electrical Workers (UE), and community supporters to celebrate the workers’ solidarity and vow ongoing support for their struggle.

“This has been a long fight and it’s not over yet,” said April Grey, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) from Laurel Hill Healthcare in Winsted. “I’m so proud to see how my co-workers are standing together through all the hardships. That’s why we will win.”

Carmen Hanlon, a CNA at the Spectrum facility in Derby, Birmingham Health Center, commented on the large number of members of other unions who had joined 1199 picket lines over the course of the year. “This fight isn’t just about us. All over the country workers’ basic rights are under attack. I think that our fight for a decent living standard is an example to everyone else who faces the same assaults.”

On April 15, 2010, close to 400 caregivers at Birmingham Health Center (Derby), Hilltop Health Center (Ansonia), Laurel Hill Healthcare (Winsted) and Park Place (Hartford) began a strike against their employer, Vernon-based Spectrum Healthcare.

At the time the strike began, the company announced that it had permanently replaced all of the striking workers, but started recalling workers in September 2010, after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a federal Complaint against Spectrum. Since September, Spectrum has recalled 163 workers, but many have returned for fewer hours than their prior positions, and many more remain on the picket line in protest of ongoing Unfair Labor Practices.

The lengthy struggle inspired two bills now before the Connecticut General Assembly: HB 6553, An Act Concerning Documentation of Licensing for Workers Hired to Replace Striking or Locked-Out Health care Employees and HB 6617, An Act Concerning Continuity of Care in Nursing Homes. The Human Services and Public Health Committees held a joint public hearing on issues concerning poor care by replacement workers and confusion about patients’ rights raised by nursing home residents and their families on June 24, 2010, two months after the strike began at the four Spectrum facilities.

More: http://www.homestead.com/homefront