Apr 14, 2016 3 min read

The global “Fight for $15” drive pulled up to the steps of Washington County Courthouse Thursday.

Local nursing home workers and supporters convened there for a late-afternoon rally with a dual purpose: to celebrate 5,000 union nursing care employees who settled contracts this month, guaranteeing them a minimum hourly wage of $15, and encourage other nursing home operators to raise the minimum pay to that threshold.

It is “Fight for $15.”

“We are here to celebrate our wins, but to remind ourselves that our work isn’t over,” said Carol Dean, a certified nursing assistant in Washington.

She has been a CNA for 23 years, and was one of 23 participants in the rally, which featured signs, chants and speakers who take pride in their work.

Earlier this month, about 5,000 Pennsylvania nursing home employees represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania took that step up. The union said they agreed to 42 contracts that, over the course of five years, will pay them at least $15 per hour. Those employees work for Golden LivingCenters, Genesis HealthCare and Oak Health. Housekeeping, laundry and dietary employees at those chains will be paid between between $13 and $14 per hour.

Workers at other nursing home chains are still negotiating pacts that include a $15 minimum. About 20 such contracts remain open.

The rally was one of nine staged across Pennsylvania by nursing home employees, amid a backdrop of a national walkout Thursday by workers protesting low pay in professions such as health care, home care, child care and fast food.

“I hope that by working together, we can raise wages for all nursing home workers to $15 an hour,” said Londa McCoy, a 22-year CNA. “If nursing aides had a wage increase, they could afford to take better care of their physical and mental health, which is good for caregivers and residents.”

Some participants held signs, including “Washington Cty. Nursing Home Workers $15 Victory” and “Nursing Home Workers Are Rising.” Tonna Parker, a physical therapy aide and 34-year employee at Washington County Health Center in Chartiers Township, led chants such as: “Nursing home workers feel the pain; poverty wages are insane” and “Hey hey, ho ho, poverty wages got to go.”

Several times during the 25-minute rally, passing motorists tapped their horns in support.

A $15-per-hour minimum is a standard that prevailed in local health-care negotiations in recent months.

In February, about 400 SEIU employees at Washington Hospital approved a three-year contract featuring a $15-per-hour minimum wage. Unit secretaries and maintenance, housekeeping and dietary workers were affected.

Then about two weeks ago, UPMC said it will set minimum starting salaries for entry-level employees at $15 per hour.

On a warm day before the county courthouse, the local battle continued.

Dean said in closing: “This is a Fight for $15 for us, for our families and for our patients.”