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Nursing home workers at five metro-area facilities began a three-day strike on Monday in response to what they say are unfair labor practices. The strike involves nursing homes, Cerenity Care at Humboldt and four affiliated Monarch Healthcare Management facilities, the company that operates The Estates.

To kick off the strike, nursing home workers and their supporters held a rally outside The Estates of St. Louis Park and Yona.

Over 300 members of the SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa union voted to strike, demanding higher wages, improved benefits and safer staffing levels, which they said are contributing to a growing workforce shortage.

Yankuba Fadera, SEIU’s lead organizer for nursing home workers’ bargaining teams, said that employees at each facility want staffing shortages to be addressed.

“They are left working by themselves, and the workload is definitely too much,” Fadera said. “Each of these nursing homes has their own pool of temporary workers who are paid way more than regular staff. So that doesn't sit well with their permanent employees.”

Jared Mitiga, a registered nurse at The Estates of St. Louis Park and a member of SEIU Healthcare, said in a statement that he voted to authorize the strike because his employer has not been willing to negotiate fairly.

"All they have done at the table is deny and deny. They've only proposed a 2 percent raise, which simply doesn't keep up with the cost of living,” Mitiga said. “It is frustrating that they seem unwilling to support us while we care for residents. It felt like they slammed the door shut before we could even get started.”

An administrator with Monarch Healthcare Management responded in a statement to MPR News and said the company is committed to reaching a fair agreement and has proposed wage increases for employees.

“We respect the employees’ right to make their own decisions and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time to reach a resolution,” the administrator said.

Picket lines are expected to continue at four Estates chain facilities and at Cerenity Care at Humboldt through Wednesday.

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Over 300 members of the SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa union voted to strike, demanding higher wages, improved benefits and safer staffing levels.

Nursing home workers launch strike across Twin Cities facilities

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