Nursing home workers reach tentative deal to end strike against Infinity

A tentative agreement between Infinity Healthcare Management and its nursing home workers was reached Friday after nearly 700 employees went on strike almost two weeks ago, according to the union representing the workers.

The nursing home workers — including cooks, housekeepers and certified nursing assistants — have been negotiating for a new contract since June. Their last contract expired in May.

Under the new three-year contract, all workers would receive a minimum $1 an hour raise with the average staff member receiving a $2 an hour wage increase. Workers also will earn annual raises in year two and three of the contact, SEIU Healhcare Illinois union leaders said Friday.

Infinity Healthcare Management did not respond to a request for comment or confirmation of the tentative deal Friday night.

Nursing home workers in facilities with verified coronavirus cases or those being monitored because they might have COVID-19 will also receive an increase in pandemic pay, from $2 an hour to $2.50 an hour. They will also gain five days of COVID-19 related sick time and guarantees that adequate personal protective equipment will be provided.

The union believes the plan will be ratified easily when it is voted on Sunday, and employees will be back to work Monday.

While the union didn’t succeed in getting base salaries for all nursing home workers increased to $15 an hour ($15.50 for CNAs), they believe the agreement will instantly improve the standard of living for members.

“This contract is about more than base wages and pandemic pay,” said Greg Kelley, president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois. “It’s about improving the lives of the workers and the residents that they take care of.”

SEIU Healthcare has an ownership stake in Sun-Times Media.

Union leaders said under the new contract, the average hourly wage will jump from $13.65 to $15.58.

“Me and my co-workers was on that picket line for 12 days. We braved the rain, the cold, the snow and we stuck in there,” said Rosalind Reggans, a CNA at Lakeview Rehab & Nursing Center. “This victory means the world to me because it means we can get back to our residents and they can get the care that they deserve.”

Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago’s South and West sides.