Nursing Home Workers Stage Informational Pickets in Ocean County

New Jersey Nursing Home Workers continue to highlight their contract demands with a series of Informational Pickets outside the facilities where they work.

With a drum and chants Healthcare workers union 1199SEIU picketed in front of the Manchester Manor Rehabilitation Center and the Barnegat Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Friday.

Pedro Arroyo, who works in housekeeping at the Barnegat facility, says he stands on the front lines in protecting patients against germs and is underpaid. "You know, I think it's not fair that I only get $10. Yea, a lot of people can say $10 dollars is a good amount but to me, for what I do, I don't think so."

Gerry George, a CNA who works on the second floor of the facility says they're working without a contract. "We're coming to work. We are really underpaid for what we do, cause we do it from our heart. We have a hard job.... you know? and we take risk everyday, we lift people."

While George says her job in caring for the frail and elderly is rewarding and that they're not doing it for the money, they still need to feed their families. "We're underpaid and you know, they want us to pay for benefits. They way it is, a gallon of milk is $4.75, gas, tolls, we need money to survive everyday.

The Informational Pickets continue this week. Union members will be at the Burnt Tavern Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Brick Tuesday.