Eureka nursing home employees protest for better working conditions

EUREKA, Calif.(KIEM)- Granada Rehabilitation was one of the worst impacted sites by the COVD-19 pandemic in Humboldt County. Employees then choose to unionize to ask for better salaries and working conditions.

“SEIU what is happening today is we’ve been in contract negotiations here in this facility for quite some time. We are mainly picketing due to unfair labor practices and low wage offers,” said Clayton Rapoza, SEIU Organizer.

Negotiation was set to be a few days ago but canceled, and facility owners are yet to schedule a new date.

SEIU contract negotiator mentioned many of the skilled nursing facilities throughout Humboldt county are owned by the same owner, making wages monopolized and artificially low.

Seniors in this city make far less than in most other cities, including Redding. I represent Northern California rural communities, and they’re making more money,” “Clayton Rapoza, SEIU Organizer.

Employees mentioned they know they will not be getting everything they want, but they feel the facility owners are slow-walking the process.

 “W” We’re asking for the world, and we want a living wage, and we want a better benefits package. We want the job security of having union stewards,” said Margaret Caldwell, Eureka Certified Nursing Assistant.