Strike into 5th month; no agreement

WINSTED — The labor strike at Laurel Hill Healthcare has moved into its fifth month, but it appears that the picketing workers’ union representatives and the Winsted nursing home’s management company are no closer to an agreement.

“Negotiations have been very slow going,� Sean Murphy, the chief financial officer for Spectrum Healthcare, told The Journal Monday.

Spectrum is the Vernon-based agency that operates the 108 East Lake St. facility, which sits directly across from Highland Lake.

Deborah Chernoff, communications director for District 1199 of New England Health Care Employees Union, agreed.

“Things are progressing along very slowly,� Chernoff said.

The next date set for negotiations between the two sides is Aug. 12 at Laurel Hill. Murphy confirmed that the talks continue to be faciliated  with the help of a federal mediator.

But Chernoff said the union’s expectations for any big breakthroughs at the next series of meetings later this month were less than optimistic.

“There isn’t any real point to it, if it’s going to be the same conversation every time,� she said.

Workers first took to the picket lines April 15 after the union and Spectrum failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

The striking Laurel Hill employees continue to picket outside the nursing home on a daily basis.

Some 400 employees in all walked off the job at four of Spectrum’s six nursing homes in Connecticut: Birmingham Health Center in Derby, Hilltop Health Center in Ansonia, Park Place in Hartford and Laurel Hill.

The union, whose contract with the management company expired in March 2009, has 62 members employed at the Winsted nursing home.

In response to the threat of a strike, Spectrum hired dozens of permanent replacement workers in April after running help wanted advertisements in several local daily newspapers.

Union leadership has said the hiring of permanent, as opposed to temporary, workers was a strong arm tactic employed in an attempt to discourage employees from striking for fear of losing their jobs.

Chernoff said the union has filed a complaint with the Connecticut State Labor Board of Relations regarding the permanent replacement workers. The board is expected to make a ruling sometime soon, she said.

In addition, the union has filed a series of charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board.

Murphy, however, has denied the charges, calling the union’s allegations of unfair labor practices claims “utterly false.�

“The homes are running back to normal now. So operationally we have no concerns,� Murphy said. “And the patients are happy with the new caregivers.�

Tensions at times have been high outside Laurel Hill since the strike began.

A nurse employed at Laurel Hill was suspended by Spectrum for allegedly joining the striking workers. Laurel Hill nurses are represented by a separate union and under their agreement are not allowed to strike against the company.

Union officials condemned the company’s decision to suspend the nurse, calling it a violation of her First Amendment rights and an attempt to deter others to show their support for the picketing employees.

Also, two drivers were arrested after they allegedly attempted to navigate their motor vehicles through the picket line outside the facility. A Winsted woman was charged with reckless driving on May 4, and a Torrington woman was charged with breach of peace on April 16.

Police continue to maintain a presence outside of Laurel Hill, primarily during the nursing home employees’ shift changes.