DeLauro Stands Up for Union Workers

New Haven, CT— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) visited the striking employees of Spectrum Care facilities on their picket lines in Derby and Ansonia today. The employees, including nurses, nursing assistants and elder-care support staff, are objecting to their lack of a labor contract with Spectrum Care for over a year, and have been on strike since April. Many of these workers are single mothers and people who live from paycheck to paycheck—they are concerned for their jobs, for their families, and look forward to the security a contract would bring.

Just last week, Congresswoman DeLauro and Reps. Murphy, Courtney, Larson and Senator Dodd sent a letter to Howard Dickstein, CEO of Spectrum Health Care expressing their concern about the labor situation at the company's facilities in Derby, Ansonia, Winsted and Hartford. Specifically, they wrote about Spectrum's decision to hire permanent replacements for those on strike and how it did not appear to constitute good faith bargaining. The letter also addresses recent OSHA violations at the Hilltop Health Center, and how the violations coincided with the hiring of the replacement workers.

"I have been in touch with Spectrum's striking employees and the local SEIU chapter for months now, and have carefully monitored this labor dispute. I believe that all hard-working Americans should be fairly compensated, and for those who are part of unions, a fair labor contract is essential. Spectrum Health Care has not negotiated in good faith, despite the repeated efforts of these local nurses and caretakers, many of whom are the sole breadwinners in their households," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "I understand that both companies and employees are feeling the strain of today's economy, but ask that Spectrum take another look at the contract being offered, to make every effort to negotiate in good faith, and to end this long dispute."