Members of UFCW Local 152 who work as certified nursing assistants, housekeepers and dietary assistants at Barclays Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, recently ratified their first union contract. This ratification marks the end of a long journey for the workers, who voted to join UFCW Local 152 in April of 2016 and stood together in the face of scheduling conflicts and other hurdles during the negotiation process.
The five-year agreement introduces many new perks for these workers. Perhaps most importantly, these members are no longer “at-will employees” and can only be disciplined or discharged for just cause. Next, seniority (length of service) now matters for times when these members bid on jobs, apply for overtime shift availability or accrue vacation time. The new contract also includes a $15,000 life insurance policy, guaranteed wage increases for the life of the contract, free uniforms (shirts and pants), call-in pay and a modified certified nursing assistant incentive bonus.