Last week, IAM Healthcare, along with the AFL-CIO and a coalition of labor and community allies, hosted a virtual rally for safe staffing standards to encourage the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish strong staffing standards for nursing homes in the United States.
Missy Zirups, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and member of IAM Local W33 (District 5) in International Falls, MN, spoke out about her first-hand experience in nursing homes. Zirups, who also serves as an IAM Union Steward, highlighted the necessity of establishing staffing levels for safe resident care.
“When you’re short-staffed, it’s really tough,” said Zirups. “Increased staffing would help immensely and balance out the workload.”
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition for safe staffing standards and share your comments of support.
For far too long, corporate-run nursing homes have failed to consistently provide adequate care to their residents as a result of insufficient staffing. Studies have revealed a noteworthy link between greater staffing levels and the delivery of superior care.
In March of this year, IAM Healthcare and other healthcare unions sent a letter to CMS calling for standards addressing the healthcare staffing crisis to protect millions of nursing home residents and improve the lives of nursing home workers. Now IAM Healthcare members have released a petition to make sure their voices are heard in the CMS rulemaking process.
TAKE ACTION: Add your voice to support IAM Healthcare members demanding strong staffing standards.
IAM Healthcare is a movement of more than 10,000 health care workers represented by the IAM Union, including thousands of long-term care professionals in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home care programs.