Fraternity-Testvériség, 1979 (57. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1979-01-01 / 1. szám

REV. PAUL KOVÁCS — Administrator

THE BETHLEN HOME

In November, 1977 the Bethlen Home signed a contract with PSSU, Local 668 union for a three year period. It contained a reopener clause concerning wages to be negotiated in November, 1978.

On November 15th our Board of Managers met with the union representatives and the federal mediator to work out an acceptable wage schedule to the interested parties for the years of 1979-1980. After three hours of strenuous discussion and negotiation in good faith the Bethlen Home presented a budget plan which would contain an annual wage increase of $48,559.00 to the union members. The amount would include the compulsory matching funds of social security and workmen’s unemployment insurance. With an equal amount percentage raise for the non-union members this meant an annual extra payroll increase of $60,000.

The union members rejected the offer of the Board of Managers. This meant that the union will call its members for a strike commencing January 3, 1979 against the Bethlen Home. In accordance with state requirement a “Work Stoppage” plan was drawn up. The Bethlen Home was officially notified that all the union members would walk out from the Nursing Home and stay away from work until the acceptance of a new contract will be voted by the members.

The most difficult, time consuming and frustrating task of the administrator was to arrange the transfers for as many patients as possible. Letters were mailed to the families for their cooperation and understanding. The neighboring nursing homes were contacted requesting them to accept the transfer of

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Cooperating Ministers.

Jimmy Szuch — Gwen Hewitt.

as many patients feasible. Out of the 15 homes contacted, only two beds were offered for welfare patients. Placing the self-paying patients gave us no problem. A few families accepted to take care of their loved ones during the strike. At the same time the congregations in the Ligonier Valley were asked to cooperate by providing volunteer helpers. This was asked also from the Hungarian ethnic congregations located in the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

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On January 3, 1979 when the union workers walked out of the Nursing Home in the morning, approximately 56 patients out of a total of 103 needed 24 hours of emergency nursing care. More than 25 newspaper articles and 3 television stations reported the daily dramatic events: taking care of the patients in the Nursing Home; the union members picketing outside the home; the negotiations and the court hearing. It was a great relief for all of us when the union members after 23 days of strike voted to return to work.

Following the end of the strike we started a period of reconciliation. Most of our patience returned. Unitedly, we again are helping them with our dedicated services. We pray and hope for a continued genuine spirit of mutual understanding and

William Szuch cutting meat.

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