A SPECTRUM OF SHAME -- 1199 STRIKE

Photo above: Carmen E. Boudier, President of District 1199 union, center of photo, walks the picket with the striking Spectrum workers. A press conference followed that highlighted Spectrum poor care in the nursing homes that are on strike. [Click on photo for full screen]

Today is the 65th day of the strike. Nearly 400 District 1199 health care workers are on strike against Vernon-based Spectrum corporation. At the press conference outrageous stories of the poor care where told since the strike began.

Photo above: Ana Ruiz, holding the mic, has a brother in a Park Place in Hartford, one of the four Spectrum homes on strike.

Ana Ruiz visits her brother regularly and worries that he is losing weight. She also said that she used to visit other patients who did not have loved ones to visit but since the strike she was ordered by Park Place staff not to speak to any patients. She feels that they think she will "make trouble" for the home but she only wants to provide them with some much-needed companionship.

The following is a brief summary of some other stories of the "Spectrum of Shame" told by loved ones.

*Bonnie Becker's mother is in Laurel Hill. She said when her sister visited her mother was lying in her own urine.

*David Zile is a patient at Park Place. He said that, "twice I almost got the wrong medications."

*Maria Rodriguez, daughter of Emiliano Robles, said that her father has been crying a lot, every day, since the new workers came.

*Risalina Miranda, daughter of Maria Miranda said "My mother needs help to the bathroom, but on one is doing anything to help her." She said that her mother is frequently wet from her own urine.

To read other stories of the shame at Spectrum Healthcare's nursing homes visit: www.SpectrumFamilyVoice.com.

What you can do to help.

JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME BETWEEN 6 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT
You also can join the picket line anytime between 6 AM and 12 midnight at the following strike locations:

Birmingham Health Center, 210 Chatfield Street, Derby , CT
Hilltop Health Center, 126 Ford Street, Ansonia
Laurel Hill Healthcare, 106 East Lake Street, Winsted
Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

SEND A DONATION:
Send a donation to: The 1199 Strike and Defense Fund. Checks should be sent to: District 1199, 77 Huyshope Avenue , Hartford , CT 06106. The union has been on strike since April 15, 2010

Posted and photos by Tom Connolly

VICTORY FOR 1199 STRIKING SPECTRUM WORKERS

Photo Above: District 1199 strikers at Park Place Health Center, Hartford, CT -- Click on the photo for full screen.

Since April 15 nearly 400 District 1999 workers went on strike against Vernon-based Spectrum. In a victory for the union, the state Department of Labor ruled all the striking workers are now eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

State law prohibits strikers who have not been locked out by their employer form receiving unemployment benefits, but there are exceptions. Spectrum Healthcare had hired permanent replacements for the striking workers, and told the union workers that they would not automatically be given their jobs back if they returned, but would be placed on a "recall list." As a result the state Department of Labor ruled that the striking workers "...had been permanently replaced, and that their unemployment was no longer due to the existence of a labor dispute."

The fight for a fair contract continues. Join a rally/press conference this Saturday:

* DATE: Saturday, June 19, 2010

* TIME: 10:30 AM

* PLACE: Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

You also can join the picket line anytime between 6 AM and 12 midnight at the following strike locations:

Birmingham Health Center, 210 Chatfield Street, Derby , CT

Hilltop Health Center, 126 Ford Street, Ansonia

Laurel Hill Healthcare, 106 East Lake Street, Winsted

Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

And send a strike fund donation to:

The 1199 Strike and Defense Fund. District 1199, 77 Huyshope Avenue , Hartford , CT 06106.

Posted by Tom Connolly

BRING HEALTH CARE HOME FOR ALL

The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut sponsored a state-wide educational conference on Saturday June 5, 2010 about the new national health care law and the new Connecticut law, know as SustiNet. The conference focused on how the two new health care laws complement each other and the next steps in insuring that all Connecticut residents have access to affordable health care.

Photo Above: Lynne Ide, representing the Universal Health Care Foundation, lead off the conference noting the SustiNet and federal law, Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, equals an win-win for Connecticut.

Lynne noted that SustiNet positions our state to take advantage of resources and a proactive approach to controlling health care costs, delivering quality care and promoting good health. It puts our state at the front of the line to attract new federal dollars to help boost the economy. The state and federal laws work together to make good, affordable health care choices available to individuals, families and small businesses.

Above Photo: Part to the large crowd that attend the conference.
Photo Above: The youngest member of the conference, Olivia, with her proud mom Rhona.

The key features of the SustiNet Health Plan include:

*Each person's care is coordinated by a qualified health care professional.
* Focus on prevention and more effective treatment of chronic illnesses
*Public health programs to fight obesity and tobacco use
*Transition of electronic medical records to promote coordination of care and avoid duplication and miscommunication
*Invest in the health care workforce so we have the doctors and nurses we need.

If you like the health care plan you have now you can keep it and the new federal law provides that most people who already have insurance new benefits such as coverage for adult children until the age of 26. Those who may enroll in the SustiNet Health Plan starting in 2012 include: The uninsured, self-employed people, small businesses, non-profit organizations and cities and towns. Premiums will be based on a sliding scale determined by income.

After the presentations the conference members meet in small groups to discuss the next steps and the strategies for implementing quality, affordable health care for all. For more information go to healthcare4every1.org.

Posted and photo's by Tom Connolly

ARREST ON THE PICKET LINE

[Photo above: Carmen E. Boudier, President of District 1199 union, is being arrested by Hartford police for blocking the entrance of Park Place Health Center in Hartford, CT.] Click on photo for full screen.

About 30 labor, community, elected officials and clergy members were arrested by Hartford police today for blocking the entrance of Park Place Health Center in Hartford to support the District 1199 Spectrum strikers. Hundreds of other strikers and supporters attended the rally. In a statement by those that where arrested noted in part:

"We are here today as a witness for justice. For almost seven weeks, these nursing home workers at Part Place Health Center have been walking the picket line for a fair contract, for dignity, and for respect. The nurses, nurses' aids, dietary, housekeeping, and laundry workers at this facility have overwhelmingly voted to make sacrifices now in order to protect, in the long term, those hard-won gains their families count on. These workers have joined nearly 300 other Spectrum workers in the same fight from Derby, Ansonia and Winsted nursing homes owned by Spectrum.

Thirty-six other 1199 nursing homes throughout the state have already settled labor contracts without a strikes....

Dr. King provides an exemplary model for our action here today. He not only fought for civil rights, he walked picket lines for labor rights as well. He said that 'It may well be that the greatest tragedy...is the silence of the so-called good people.' Justice demands that these workers' stories be told, and that we publicly join our voices to support them."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Call the Spectrum Healthcare owners now and tell them to settle this strike immediately for the sake of the residents, the workers and our communities. Their names and phone numbers are:

Brian Dickstein-- 860-871-5454, ext 11 (office)
Home: 860-648-1300
Howard Dickstein - 860-871-5454 ext 13 (office)
Home: 860-272-2981
Sean Murphy - 860-871-5454 ext 12 (office) -- Home: 860-758-7996

JOIN THE PICKET LINES ANYTIME BETWEEN 6 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT

Birmingham Health Center, 210 Chatfield Street, Derby , CT
Hilltop Health Center, 126 Ford Street, Ansonia
Laurel Hill Healthcare, 106 East Lake Street, Winsted
Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

SEND A DONATION:

Send a donation to: The 1199 Strike and Defense Fund. Checks should be sent to: District 1199, 77 Huyshope Avenue , Hartford , CT 06106. The union has been on strike since April 15, 2010.

Other Photos of the Action:

Posted by Tom Connolly