Employees picketed the Alameda Healthcare and Wellness Facility on Willow Street last week to press their demands for better working conditions, pay, and patient safety. The effort is being organized by Service Employees International Union, local 2015, which represents more than 500,000 long term patient care workers statewide.
Alameda Healthcare is one of the largest non-union skilled nursing facilities in the Bay Area. It is also the last such facility on the island to be without worker bargaining representation. It is part of a chain of 80 nursing homes throughout California owned by healthcare millionaire Shlomo Rechnitz and his related companies.
For a union to represent workers, a majority of employees in a bargaining unit must sign cards supporting the move. If the employer does not immediately recognize the union, the National Labor Relations Board will hold an election to determine the outcome.
Union sources say the group has support from 70% of the 145 workers who would be covered by a union contract. An election date has not yet been set due to delays caused by the recent government shutdown…