December 12, 2007 10:01 AM
Yesterday afternoon, community members and workers' rights activists held a candle light vigil across from the Atria Lynbrook assisted living facility.
What for?
Well, turns out Atria has been using some strong-arming to bust efforts among the assisted living facility's workers to start a union. Which is, um, illegal, and moreover, grossly unethical and totally ridiculous for a company that relies on skilled and compassionate workers to care for the elderly and ill.
Radika Munna, who has been working in the kitchen at Atria for ten years and a leader among staff members attempting to form a union was fired Thanksgiving Day, because, as she stated, "I want a voice on the job."
Another employee, Chanmattie Kandasami, was sent home from work and told she could not come back while her green card was being renewed – even though she had documentation from Immigration stating clearly that she is allowed to work while her green card status is being updated.
Shame on you, Atria Lynbrook.
As a member of one of the largest chains of assisted living facilities in the country, with more than 140 facilities in 27 states, you should know better than to go around bullying your employees, and threatening them because of immigration status.
(For more info, check out the SEIU Healthcare campaign to improve assisted living.)