Nursing home workers suspend strike plans after Gov. Raimondo pledges support
The union representing workers at five Rhode Island nursing homes has suspended plans to go on strike next week, after Governor Gina M. Raimondo pledged to work with state lawmakers and union leaders to resolve staffing issues and develop a minimum staffing standard.
In a letter Thursday to Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, Raimondo said she was “disappointed” that legislation introduced in the General Assembly to set minimum staffing levels in Rhode Island nursing homes did not pass, but urged workers to stay on the job, saying “we need to keep our nursing home residents safe as we continue our effective response to COVID-19.”
Chronic staffing shortages at nursing homes have been exacerbated during the pandemic, as staff have fallen ill and administrators say they've had trouble finding replacements.
Legislation passed by the state Senate earlier this month to set minimum staffing levels and raise wages at nursing homes has stalled in the House. (The House passed a bill to create a study commission to consider recommendations for nursing homes.)
Read more: https://thepublicsradio.org/news/nursing-home-workers-suspend-strike-plans