Nursing Home Staffing Levels
Need Reform
SEIU Local 503 is sponsoring a ballot
measure that will establish safe
staffing levels in Oregon nursing
homes. This ballot measure came
about based upon the experience of
our nursing home members who
continually find themselves short
staffed, negatively impacting the
quality of care that residents receive.
Our pay and benefits and
staffing ratios are affected
by decisions made by state
and federal politicians.
We're taking these issues on
at the source, with a ballot
measure that will increase
mandatory staffing ratios
in all nursing homes. This
could bring a real change
in how nursing homes
attract and keep staff,
improving pay and benefits
for workers and services for
our residents. Mb
Kerry Wilson
works with seniors and people with
disabilities at a nursing home in Salem
"We're taking these issues on at the
source, with a ballot measure that
will increase mandatory staffing
ratios in all nursing homes," said
Kerry Wilson, a Local 503 member
and nursing home worker in Salem.
"This could bring a real change in
how nursing homes attract and keep
staff, improving pay and benefits for
workers and services for our resi-
dents."Many homecare workers have
experience working in nursing homes
and are well acquainted with the
problems with staffing. In fact, it is
not uncommon to hear homecare
workers say the reason they left a
nursing home is because they
couldn't stand the stress of not being
able to provide even marginally
adequate care to the residents.
Homecare workers are supporting
this ballot measure to ensure safe
staffing levels because nursing home
patients deserve good care and nurs
ing home staff deserve to work in an
environment where they feel good
about the quality of care and have
peace of mind when they leave at
the end of their shifts.
Ann Taylor, of Terrebonne, worked in
nursing homes for about 12 years
and left because of staffing issues. "I
left because there was no back-up
when I needed to take time off. Co
workers were often stressed and
always worried about their patients
being neglected."
06
January 28
Working Family
Conference
On January 28, our union
will meet in Portland to kick
off our 2006 working family
agenda. With guest speak
ers, workshops and a review
of ballot measures and can
didates for office, we expect
a high energy conference.
Please check with your
organizer if you would like
more information.
We will be gathering over 100,000 signatures
to qualify this ballot measure by the end of
June, so that it is on the ballot in November,
2006. Homecare workers are encouraged to
help with this very important measure.
(Dignity