LA Nursing Home Workers Rally in National Day of Action Demanding Industry Wide Standards, Seat at the Table in Response to Staffing Crisis and Low Wages

Press Contact:
Terry Carter, 213 uies
June 7, 2022

Members of SEIU 2015 will mobilize across California to demand that a Quality Standards Board be a part of the State Budget to address dangerously low staffing levels and low wages. This is the fifth statewide day of action calling for improvements in California’s nursing homes this year.

Today’s actions are part of a coordinated, sustained campaign across 12+ states to demand national industry wide reform

WHEN:        
Wednesday, June 8th 
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT

WHERE:    
New Gen Corporate Office
9526 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

WHO:    
LA County nursing home workers and supporters, including SEIU Local 2015 Executive Vice President Arnulfo De La Cruz, LAANE representative Daniel Orellana Rogers

WHAT:    
Nursing home workers and supporters will gather outside of the New Gen Corporate office to advocate for legislation providing higher industry standards, safe staffing levels, and increased wages. 

Participating SEIU 2015 members are available for interviews.

SEIU 2015, the nation’s largest long-term care union, represents more than 400,000 nursing home and home care workers in California. These frontline workers have cared for our communities’ most vulnerable, yet are faced with low wages and inadequate protections and benefits. COVID has exacerbated staffing shortages in California’s nursing homes, and workers are quitting at alarming rates. These essential workers are calling for safe staffing levels, improved working conditions, and better pay and benefits to address skyrocketing turnover in the facilities.

This spring, SEIU Local 2015, in partnership with California State Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, proposed a statewide Quality Standards Board to establish a number of industry-wide standards for California’s nursing homes and their essential workers, including setting an industry-wide minimum wage standard for all nursing home employees, implementing safe staffing requirements, and strengthening benefits.

Now, they’re also taking their fight to a national level in a coordinated and sustained campaign that will include worker mobilizations, advocacy and investment aimed at reaching the Biden Administration, state officials, and nursing home employers directly. The Biden Administration has begun proposing measures to improve nursing home jobs and hold employers accountable, in part because nursing home workers have raised their voices directly to administration officials to demand reform. 

Press Contacts:
DKC News
SEIU@dkcnews.com            

On Site Contacts:
Terry Carter
805-312-0024

Chris Baiza       
213-518-1998