Striking SNF workers are back on the job in Conn.

The strike is over at New Jersey-based HealthBridge Management and SNF workers are back on the job today after an eight-month stoppage. Workers are happy to be back with their residents. Margaret Kwiczor, a CNA, told the Hartford Courant, “I spent almost all my adult life here. It’s like coming home; I miss my patients dearly.” Strikers represented nurses and nursing assistants as well as staff from laundry, dietary and housekeeping departments.

On July 12, 2012, more than 600 nursing home workers, members of Service Employees International Union District 1199, walked off their jobs at five HealthBridge Management facilities in Stamford, Newington, Westport, Milford and Danbury, Conn., protesting termination of pensions and switching healthcare premiums to the workers.

In December, a federal judge ordered HealthBridge to reinstate the workers at the wages and benefits in their previous contract. The company is appealing an order by U.S. District Judge, who agreed with the National Labor Relations Board that there were violations of labor law, to undo the contractual changes.

Meanwhile, HealthBridge has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying that it needs to keep the contractual changes it made or it will have to close the doors of its nursing homes.

Related stories: Connecticut nursing home strike gets ugly; Injunctions sends Conn. nursing home workers back to work

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.