Nursing Home Strikes Intensify in Detroit, New York

Nursing home workers at five facilities in Western New York and five in Southeast Michigan have gone on strike, citing low wages, staffing shortages, and poor working conditions. Nearly 1,000 union members represented by 1199SEIU are participating in the week-long strike in Western New York, while some facilities reached agreements to avoid walkouts. The McGuire Group and Elderwood, which own the affected New York facilities, assert that staffing remains stable and contingency plans are in place. In Southeast Michigan, over 300 employees at Ciena Healthcare facilities, represented by SEIU Healthcare Michigan, are striking for better pay and benefits, with some having worked without a contract since January. Ciena management argues the strikes are unnecessary, while union officials criticize proposed wage increases and allege attempts to reduce benefits. These strikes underscore ongoing tensions in the long-term care industry over labor conditions, patient care, and contract negotiations.