Gov. Lamont calls on the National Guard for help with a potential nursing home strike in Connecticut

Gov. Ned Lamont is asking the National Guard to help ensure the safety of nursing home residents in the face of a possible strike by workers later this week.

“In accordance with Section 27-14 of the Connecticut General Statutes, I authorize you to immediately call up a sufficient force of members of the armed forces of the state to support as needed the Department of Public Health in protecting the public health and safety in response to any potential work stoppage or strike of workers at long-term care facilities or other congregate settings in the state beginning on or about May 14, 2021,’' Lamont wrote in a letter Monday to Major General Francis J. Evon Jr., the adjutant general of the Connecticut military department.

Lamont’s request came after a weekend of unsuccessful negotiations between the union representing thousands of health care workers, SEIU District 1199 of New England, and nursing home owners. The showdown pits an industry devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic against the low-wage employees that have had to provide care as the virus raced through their workplace.

The union says its workers will walk off the job at 33 Connecticut nursing homes on Friday if an agreement is not reached. On Monday, a strike was also authorized at six additional nursing homes; that would take place on May 28.

The nursing home owners have filed contingency plans to keep residents safe with the state Department of Public Health, as they are required to do. Those plans, which are not available to the public, include bringing in replacement workers and moving patients if necessary.

The 33 nursing homes targeted for the first wave of strikes on Friday are scattered across the state. The nursing homes include 11 operated by Genesis HealthCare, one of the nation’s chains of largest skilled nursing facilities; 11 more by iCare Health Network and 7 are run by RegalCare.

The six nursing homes that received strike notificcations for May 28 are: St. Camilius Center in Stamford, Governor’s House in Simsbury, West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation Center, Advanced Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New Haven and Cassena Care of Stamford and Norwalk, according to the union.

Daniela Altimari can be reached at dnaltimari@courant.com.

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