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Working Without A Labor Contract, Protesting Healthcare Workers At Sun Healthcare's Reservoir Care & Rehabilitation Facility In West Hartford Will Be Joined TODAY, Thursday Afternoon By Connecticut Construction Workers On Protest Line In Show Of Support
- In Light Of Sun Healthcare’s Historic & Ongoing Exploitation Of Its Workers, Union Leaders Continue Call For Former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly’s Immediate Resignation From Sun Healthcare Board Of Directors -
(Hartford, Connecticut)– Local 1224 Hartford announced today that Connecticut construction workers will be joining dozens of healthcare workers on the protest line in front of the Sun Healthcare Reservoir Care & Rehabilition Facility, One Emily Way, West Hartford, CT, TODAY, Thursday afternoon, October 22, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Since their labor contract expired on August 31, 2009, Connecticut healthcare workers from the Sun Healthcare Reservoir Care & Rehabilitation facility, West Hartford, CT, have started an informational protest action on a daily basis in response to early failed labor negotiations that requested reasonable wage increases and longevity awards for employees. Approximately 65 healthcare workers, consisting of nursing assistants, technicians and administrative assistants, are employed at the 75-bed nursing facility and members of the Connecticut Laborers’ Local 1224.
“We appreciate that our fellow union members from the construction industry are joining us in support of this important protest as a major national corporation again takes in more and more revenues but ignores its workers when it comes to reasonable wage and benefit requests. Next week, the Connecticut Teamsters will be joining us on the protest line in a show of support,” said Steve Snipes, business manager, Laborers’ Local 1224.“How can we solve this specific labor issue? Perhaps we could take the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Sun Healthcare CEO Richard Matros and his wife Adrienne have handed over to all of the national politicians during the last year or so, including money to beef-up their own Sun Healthcare Political Action Committee, and instead re-invest it into their own workers.”
“This is not the case of an ailing corporation hurting during these tough economic times. Sun Healthcare is doing very well these days and growing through acquisitions and also by exploiting its workers. All we are asking for are small dollar increases per year in wages and longevity awards after an employee has been there for 10, 15 or 20 years. So far, Sun Healthcare’s management has flatly refused these reasonable requests. Imagine, after working for one employer for 20 years, they would not even appreciate your efforts by rewarding you with a $1,000 bonus,” explained Charles LeConche, business manager, Connecticut Laborers’ District Council.“That is why we are seeking U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly’s assistance. In light of what she represented and accomplished while as a U.S. Congresswoman and now head of the National Committee To Preserve Social Security And Medicare, I am requesting that she take the necessary actions to resign from the Sun Healthcare board of directors immediately to show her support for our workers and to stop this labor exploitation,” said LeConche.







