UFCW 876: Cherrywood Nursing Home CNA's Stand Up for Rights, Seek Union Contract

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The certified nursing assistants working at Cherrywood Nursing & Living Center will be conducting an informational picket and rally on Friday, May 22, 2015, see details below, to encourage its administrator's to stop stalling negotiations with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 (UFCW 876).

Informational picket: Cherrywood Nursing Home
(2 - 4 p.m. 2372 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI)
Rally: Nelson Park before and after picket; 
(12:30 - 5:30, Nelson Park, 2775 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI)

The majority of Cherrywood CNA's, nearly 90, voted overwhelmingly for union representation last September, recognizing UFCW 876 as the official collective bargaining agent at the facility.  However, since that time, the union's attempts to negotiate health care, guaranteed wages, safe working conditions, a fair attendance policy and other protections has been met with minimal participation. The administration's goal has been to eliminate basic contractual protections.

"The legislative environment toward worker protections has been extremely turbulent throughout the country, to say the least." Dan Pedersen, UFCW 876 secretary-treasurer said. "These negotiations stand as a solid measure of how big business will manipulate right to work laws now in place. But more importantly it is also provides a clear indication that basic worker rights are at great risk. "

UFCW 876 is a progressive partner in building strong, healthy communities through solid wages, meaningful benefits and the means to a decent retirement through the protections of a union contract. Representing nearly 18,000 members in Michigan and 1.3 million members nationwide, UFCW is the largest private sector union in the country with members working in retail, grocery, meatpacking, and pharmaceutical, healthcare and automotive.

SOURCE United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876