Many raise a candle to show solidarity with workers

A CANDLELIGHT vigil was held in Kingsbridge Heights on April 4 outside the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Center, where workers have been striking for health care benefits. Photo by Alfred Giancarli

CORRECTION APPENDED

By Erin O'Neill

A sea of electric candles illuminated the streets around the Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Center on April 4 where a strike over health care benefits has raged for more than a month.

The candlelight vigil marked the workers' 45th day on strike and attracted support from dozens of residents, as well as the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association and the Kingsbridge Heights Neighborhood Association, and local elected officials, like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

"I felt it was very important to be there and stand in solidarity with the workers," said Mr. Dinowitz on Tuesday. "I think it's a very egregious situation."

"We just want them back to work," said Sheila Lennon, a Kingsbridge Heights resident who lives kitty-corner from the nursing home on Cannon Place. She is one of many neighbors to voice their support for the home's aides in recent weeks.

The workers, who belong to 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, lost their medical benefits last November when the home's owner, Helen Sieger, stopped paying into their union's health care fund.

They went on an all-day and night strike starting Feb. 20. In the weeks since, tensions have mounted as Ms. Sieger shows no sign of coming to the table to reach an agreement and brought in replacement workers.

"When someone is on strike, they see these people as someone taking their jobs," said Michael Rifkin, executive vice president for the 1199's nursing home division, of the replacement workers. "We get a little warm over that."

The union distributed a flyer resembling a "wanted" poster. Black-and-white headshots sit beneath a written plea asking for help identifying those pictured. The photos are not of criminals, however.

"Those are strike breakers, what are known as scabs," explained Nelson Valdez, vice president of the union's nursing home division in New York.

The "wanted" flyer depicts 30 women and two men. In part, the accompanying message reads, "Management is trying to throw out the union. These people are believed to be strikebreakers and are crossing the picket line. They hope to take our jobs. Please help us and our families."

"We want to know who the scabs are," said Marlene Abigun, 1199 member and 30-year employee of the nursing home. "We want to talk to them."

When management recruits replacement workers during a strike, the situation can become volatile, said Padraig O'Donoghue, admissions counselor at the City University's Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies. "It's putting the whole dynamic of being in a union at risk," said Mr. O'Donoghue.

The 50th Precinct stations at least two radio cars at the nursing home at all times, police said. Ms. Sieger has also hired her own security team, whose members have taken photos and video of the striking union members, according to the police.

Most of the 220 strikers at the Kingsbridge Heights Nursing Home are certified nursing aides, housekeeping and dietary workers earning about $12 to $14 an hour.

"We feel helpless out here," said Verona Roland, a certified nursing assistant who has worked at the nursing home for 13 years.

Audrey Campbell, a nursing assistant at the home for 29 years, said she feels awful about not being able to help her patients. "We don't want to be here," said Ms. Campbell. "But we can't give up the fight."

Neither Ms. Sieger nor her lawyers returned repeated calls seeking comment.

CORRECTION:

Because of an editing error, the story appearing in the April 10 issue incorrectly stated that striking workers carried a flyer featuring headshots of men and women considered to be “strike breakers.” However, it was the workers’ union, 1199 SEIU, that distributed the flyer to nursing homes and hospitals throughout New York.

This is part of the April 10, 2008 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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