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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.