Bellefontaine bargaining team members (from left to right): Leanna Jenkins, Vickie Lake, and Arvellea Walker

On Monday, October 24, nursing home workers at Bellefontaine Gardens cast their ballots to approve their latest contract.

The unit approved the agreement unanimously, and the bargaining team that led negotiations was pleased with the results.

Workers held their ground, demanding a $1/hour wage increase despite management’s attempts to settle for less.

Other highlights of the agreement include:

• No mandation – meaning workers cannot be forced to work overtime,
• Retro-pay back to July 1, 2016,
• Annual pay increases, and
• Holiday pay for Martin Luther King Day.

“I’m so proud of what we accomplished together,” said Arvellea Walker, a cook who has been at Bellefontaine for nearly 3 years. “We knew we were worth more than just a $0.35 increase so we stood up and fought for it – and we won! Bellefontaine is a second home for most of us and our residents are like our second family. The work we do here is important and I’m glad management finally came around to recognize that.”

Congratulations to workers at Bellefontaine Gardens for a hard-fought contract fight that shows the power of holding out one day longer than management in negotiations!