‘Solidarity Caravan’ To Arrive Saturday

A solidarity caravan” in support of the striking workers at nursing homes is set to roll into Ansonia and Derby Saturday.

Nursing home workers at Hilltop Health Center in Ansonia and Birmingham Health Center in Derby have been on strike for three months.

Several rounds of negotiations have been unsuccessful.

On Saturday, a bevy of union groups and political figures will be boarding buses and cars to support the striking Valley workers.

According to a press release from union spokeswoman Deborah Chernoff, those scheduled to attend include State Rep. Mike Lawlor, State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, along with the Federation of University Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Working Families Party, United Electrical Workers, the Communications Workers of America and the Connecticut Citizens Action Group, among many others.

The caravan will leave the People’s Center at 37 Howe St. in New Haven at 9:30 a.m., then makes its way to the Hilltop Health Center at 126 Ford St. in Ansonia by 9:50 a.m.

The caravan will arrive at the Birmingham Health Center in Derby at 10:30 a.m.

Union supporters said Spectrum, the company that owns the nursing homes, hired permanent replacements for the striking workers.

What’s happening at these nursing homes will have an effect on all working people in the state. The right to strike is a powerful tool for justice, and it is guaranteed by law,” Bob Proto, president of the Greater New Haven Central Labor Council, said in a prepared statement. But when the Spectrum employer, or any employer, decides to permanently replace their workforce, it’s a huge problem. Union workers are supporting these nursing home strikers today because if we don’t stand together now, we will be next.”

Workers are also on strike at nursing homes in Hartford and Winsted.

In a recent interview with the Valley Indy, Sean Murphy, Spectrum’s chief financial officer, said union leaders were making unfair demands, especially given the poor health of the state’s economy.

When asked if there’s an end in sight for the strike, Murphy said:

Labor disputes always come to an end. I just don’t see how this one does at this point.”

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