After months of negotiations and two power-packed days on the strike line, workers at Four Seasons Rehab & Nursing in metro Detroit settled their contract Tuesday night. During the strike, workers called on management to ensure quality care for residents by improving staffing levels, providing adequate personal protective equipment for the duration of the pandemic, paying frontline workers a living wage and taking responsibility for the crisis of COVID-19 within nursing homes.
After walking off the job at 6 am Monday, Four Seasons nursing home workers drew support from U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, State Rep. Jewell Jones, and Westland Council Members Tasha Green and Mike McDermott, who joined workers in person. Other elected officials — State Sen. Erika Geiss, State Rep. Mari Manoogian, State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow and State Sen. Stephanie Chang — showed their support on social media. Solidarity from elected leaders underlined nursing home workers’ interconnected demands on the job and from government.
Fresh off their victory, the workers — certified nursing assistants, dietary, laundry, housekeeping workers, and restorative and activities aides — returned to work Wednesday morning.
· Read more in The Detroit News.
