Connecticut nursing home strike gets ugly

On July 3, 2012, 700 nursing home workers, members of the Service Employees International Union, began a strike at five HealthBridge facilities in Newington, Stamford and Danbury, Conn., to protest labor concessions imposed by the operator. Along with nurses and nursing assistants, strikers include staff from laundry, dietary and housekeeping departments.

On July 20, lawyers for HealthBridge asked Connecticut’s Chief States Attorney Kevin T. Kane to launch a criminal inquiry into alleged acts of vandalism and sabotage by the striking workers. Alleged misdeeds include changing names on patient doors, switching names on residents in the memory care unit and tampering with medication records.

The two sides have been deadlocked over issues such as pay, medical insurance and retirement packages for nearly 18 months.

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