Now It’s Time for the State to Do Right by Workers 

St. Louis – With news of the impending closure of Christian Care Home in Ferguson, MO, SEIU Healthcare Missouri Director Lenny Jones and State Representative Cora Faith Walker, D-Ferguson, released the following joint statement:

“News that Christian Care Home will soon shutter is a disappointing development—and one that was entirely preventable. The long-term and serious mismanagement of this nursing home was a primary factor in the 104-day strike last year by workers represented by SEIU Healthcare Missouri.

“Workers, many with decades of seniority, chose to go on strike rather than simply leave the facility and the residents they cared for, because of their deep commitment both to residents and the Ferguson community. Because of that mismanagement, workers were long paid below-market-rate wages—and many have children who make as much or more working fast food jobs in the area.

“Now that the facility’s poor leadership and disorganization has resulted in its scheduled closure, the state has stepped in to manage the process of closing the facility and is asking workers to make the sacrifice of waiting to find and start other jobs until all residents are transferred.

“While workers are willing to continue to give their all to residents, they are once again facing a challenging holiday season—remember that they spent last Christmas on strike. They are calling upon the state to provide them with a fair severance package so that they can dedicate themselves to caring for residents at Christian Care until the closure and be able to provide for their families during the process of finding new jobs.

“As we go into the start of the holiday season and prepare to sit down with our families to celebrate Thanksgiving, we ask that the state commit to fair severance packages for these dedicated workers who have already given so much to the residents in their care—and now find themselves facing the loss of their jobs.”

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