Day 1 News Coverage: Infinity #StrikeForOurLives
By Neal
Day 1 of the strike garnered news coverage from the AP, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, ABC 7, NBC 5, CBS 2, Fox 32, WGN, and more. See more below.
Chicago Sun Times: Nearly 700 nursing home workers strike for hazard pay, better conditions at Infinity centers
“The poverty wages that nursing home workers are paid creates a downward spiral where no one wants to work at a nursing home, which creates a staffing crisis.” – Janice Hill, an employee at City View Multicare Center in Cicero for 12 years, said she makes $14.10 an hour and cares for 33 residents during her night shift.
“Outside there’s a sign that says they are heroes, but unfortunately Infinity Healthcare does not want to treat them like heroes,” said Shaba Andrich, vice president for nursing homes at SEIU Healthcare Illinois
Fox 32: Hundreds of nursing home workers strike for hazard pay, better conditions
“They care about the safety of themselves and the residents. And that’s what this fight is about. It’s about making sure that workers have what they need to work one job – not two – so they don’t they don’t worry about what it means to cross contaminate…that they have adequate PPE.” Erica Bland- Durosinmi, Exec Vice President of SEIU HCII
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: Nearly 700 mostly Chicago-area nursing home workers striking
“Jackie Abulebdeh, who works at Southpoint Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, said she is provided only one mask for a day’s work.”
“The striking workers said Infinity discontinued pandemic pay for employees at the end of July and pays workers base wages well below those of other nursing homes in the Chicago area, despite receiving $12.7 million in COVID-19 funding through the federal coronavirus rescue package.”
“The poverty wages that nursing home workers are paid creates a downward spiral where no one wants to work at a nursing home, which creates a staffing crisis and forces good workers to leave.”
CBS 2: Caregivers Go On Strike In Cicero Over Pandemic Working Conditions
“They accuse Infinity of ending pandemic pay for workers at the end of July, even though it received 12.7 million in #COVID19 funding through the #CaresAct.”
ABC 7: Nursing home workers begin strike in fight for better wages, hazard pay, PPE
“We’re looking for hazard pay, not just for a few people but for everyone, because we’ve had members die who are housekeeping laundry workers, dietary workers; members are dying. I’m not talking about just CNAs, not just people who are dealing directly with COVID patients,” said Shaba Andrich with SEIU Healthcare Illinois.
NBC 5: Hundreds of Workers Strike at Chicago-Area Nursing Homes
“We are striking for our lives, to protect ourselves and our families and to stand up for our residents.” – Shantonia Jackson, CNA, City View Nursing Home
WGN: Nearly 700 nursing home workers go on strike across Chicago area
“Workers say Infinity discontinued pandemic pay for employees at the end of July and pays workers base wages well below those of other nursing homes in the Chicago area, despite receiving $12.7 million in COVID-19 funding through the CARES Act.”
Chicago Tribune: Workers go on strike at 11 nursing homes in Illinois, demanding higher wages and COVID-19 pandemic hazard pay
“The members of SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana said they were seeking pay of $15.50 an hour for CNAs, and about $15 an hour for housekeepers and other workers, and hazard pay as essential workers during the pandemic. They say it’s similar to terms other workers in the state got after a nursing home strike earlier this year by about 10,000 workers at 100 nursing homes.
Infinity received nearly $13 million in federal aid through the CARES Act this year, and is seeking more, according to the union, part of the Service Employees International Union…
Illinois lawmakers last year increased Medicaid funding for nursing homes by up to $240 million, and $70 million of that was meant to address staffing needs.”
