Nursing home workers at several facilities across Florida, picketed their employer, Healthcare Services Group (HSG), calling for a restoration in the number of working hours for employees, which have recently been cut.
To chants of “What do we want? Eight hours a day” and When do we want it? Now,” healthcare workers, joined by members of 1199 SEIU on Thursday, picketed for hours outside the Rio Pinar Health Care nursing home on Orange County’s east side, urging HSG to restore the hours which had been cut to dietary workers and housekeepers, so they could earn a living wage.
Dollie Jenkins, a 1199 SEIU union organizer explained that HSG, a publicly traded, Pennsylvania-headquartered healthcare services provider, took over the dietary department at Rio Pinar Health Care on July 1st and shortly after cut the number of hours for dietary workers and housekeepers.
“These healthcare employees work hard and provide compassionate care to the nursing home residents,” Jenkins explained. “Yet their hours of work were abruptly cut from eight to seven and a-half hours a day, in some cases seven hours, which means they are earning less.”
Jenkins added that the cut in hours imposed by HSG is a violation of the contract bargaining agreement, which is totally unacceptable. Â “HSG needs to reinstate the eight hours and respect their employees,” she said.
Some 18 healthcare workers at the Rio Pinar Health Care have been affected by the reduced work hours and it is estimated that across Florida this number is over 150.
Even without the reduced work hours and accompanying pay cut, housekeepers, laundry, dining and nutrition services workers are considered low- paid workers in the healthcare and tourism industries in Florida.
Meanwhile, HSG Chairman and CEO, Daniel P. McCartney took home in excess of $1 million in 2012, with Executive Vice President, Bryan D. McCartney, its lowest paid executive, pocketing $842,000 last year.
As well, HSG posted $1.08 billion in sales in 2012, and according to a company statement, expects double-digit revenue growth for the rest of 2013.
As for Rio Pinar Health Care, according to that company’s website, the facility currently has 174 residents in its nursing home and was given an overall low rating of 2.0.
“I have worked at Rio Pinar for 13 years and I have seen the decline in working conditions – the cutbacks in staff and patient care,” said a Rio Pinar CNA.  “It is unbelievable.”  She said it was important for her to join the picket line and lend support to the dietary workers and housekeepers, many of whom have to work several jobs to make ends meet and support their families.
For their part, the lowly paid employees of HSG say, they will continue to make their voices heard until their hours are restored and they are respected for the work they do. Â And to chants of, “HSG says cut back” and “We say fight back,” the healthcare workers and 1199 SEIU members continued their picket in sweltering 95 degree temperatures.
