Nursing Home Workers and Owners Team Up

Nursing home workers, owners and managers came together on November 19 at the 2nd Annual Nursing Home Conference at the SEIU 503 Portland office to learn about some important things happening in skilled nursing facilities. On the agenda was a training from the YES for Oregon campaign, and a Labor-Management Committee training on how to have more proactive, interest-based labor-management alliances.

The day began with some rousing speeches from across our coalition: Leslie Frane, Executive Director of SEIU Local 503; Scott Carlson, consultant for our Nursing Home Alliance, Lauren Rhoades from OHCA, Bandana Shrestha from AARP, and Judy Byers, a worker and union member-leader from Evergreen Windsor. The speakers talked about our unique partnership with many of Oregon’s nursing home chains, what we’ve accomplished within that partnership and our larger coalition for senior’s and people with disabilities.

All participants joined a training from the YES FOR OREGON campaign about ballot measures 66 and 67, the Tax Fairness Package. Participants learned that these measures were put on the ballot by wealthy people and corporations who are unwilling to pay their fair share of taxes in order to save our most needed services -- long term care, childcare, schools, and other vital programs. Senator Rod Monroe (D-24) joined us to talk about how hard he and other lawmakers pushed to make sure that this funding came through for services, and what a victory it will be for our members, clients & families when Tax Fairness finally begins. We learned that, even though we already passed the Tax Fairness Package through the legislature this year, we will need to vote YES on or before January 26 to make sure corporations and rich people pay their fair share, too.

The day ended with a training from LERC (Labor Education and Research Center) on how to have move collaborative, interest-based, and proactive Labor-Management Committees (LMCs) in our facilities. In the final exercise, we brainstormed about how to increase census in union nursing homes. We came up with some great lists, and we will be working hard in each facility to reach these goals and to spread the word about voting YES on Measures 66 and 67 in January.

The conference was a huge success. Participants came away armed with new knowledge; new ways of talking to co-workers, family, and the public; and a new-found respect for each other’s opinions and ideas. We are all looking forward to the 3rd Annual Conference next year!

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