Mercerville Center wins raises, more say on safety and working conditions

After a long, difficult negotiations, Local 810 members at the Mercerville Center nursing home won raises in each year of a 3 year agreement and commitments to improve staffing levels and more say on working conditions. Genesis Health Care was fighting all the NJ/NY area unions to keep wages low and increase part time and per diem workers.

Nurses aides have long complained about management cutting corners when it came to proper coverage on the floors to take care of elderly and disabled residents. With new contract language on staffing levels and Labor Management meetings, members will have much more input and leverage to enforce safe working conditions.

In addition, the housekeeping department successfully resolved a number of outstanding issues regarding scheduling, seniority and communications with management.

“A lot of credit goes to the Local 810 Bargaining Committee of Tammy Williams, Tarshana Hawkins, Judy Henderson and Richard Atkinson, for their perseverance and strong advocacy on behalf of all their fellow workers, said President Mike Smith. I have worked with this group for many years – I believe they deserve more for the dedicated and hard work they do every day on behalf of the residents. Local 810 is committed to working with other unions to improve the pay, benefits and working conditions for those who care for our elderly family members.”