Workers at the The Rawlin, a memory care facility owned by Onelife, delivered a petition to management on Monday, demanding immediate recognition of their union and expedited contract negotiations to save residents’ lives. The Rawlin facility has an active COVID-19 outbreak with 47 confirmed cases and six deaths.

“We are constantly working short,” said Summer Trosko, a Med Tech at The Rawlin. “We have had 21 deaths in 8 weeks, and only some of these were from COVID. Most of them have died alone. We do not have enough staff so someone can sit with them in their last hours on this earth. They deserve better. It is heartbreaking that they are being treated like this. I’m forming a union because we have to do something to fight for our residents’ lives.”

Over the last several days, 85% of employees at The Rawlin have signed both a petition to management and union cards stating their intention to unionize. Onelife, The Rawlin’s parent company, has received $260,858 in Covid relief funding from the state of Oregon for PPE and extra staffing and costs. However that money has not translated into better policies at the facility.

Workers’ key issues are:

• Danger to residents from critical understaffing 
• Insufficient training that puts residents and workers at risk
• Extreme turnover due to low wages and traumatizing working conditions
• Recognition of a staff union

“I’m doing this for our residents,” said Jenn Gregory, a Rawlin Care Partner. These people have fought wars and taught our kids and taken care of us when they were younger. These were our mothers, fathers, grandparents, teachers and doctors and what are we doing for them? We’re giving them the absolute bare minimum. When I got COVID, I was still recovering and was not ready to work and they pushed me to come in. The fatigue was insane. When I came in and saw the condition our residents were in, I started sobbing. We are all overwhelmed. I make $12.40 an hour. Believe me, I’m here for the residents.”

Take action today to help Rawlin workers fight for residents’ lives

Mortality rates from COVID-19 are 30% lower in unionized nursing homes (1). Contact Zack and Greg Falk. Tell them to do the right thing: recognize The Rawlin workers’ union and protect its residents.

Click here to contact The Rawlin

Click here to contact OneLife Investments, The Rawlin’s parent company

Be sure to direct your message to Zack and Greg Falk, and tell them to do the right thing: recognize the workers’ union and protect residents at The Rawlin.