Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, today released the following statement as school districts across New Jersey are closing in response to COVID-19:

“1199SEIU is urgently calling on all relevant state and local authorities to immediately develop public care plans for the children of healthcare workers, whose continued presence on the job is essential to combating coronavirus.

“As a union representing 8,000 nursing home workers in New Jersey, we are deeply concerned by a potential staffing collapse, as workers unable to find accommodations for their children are forced to stay home.

“A poll of our New Jersey membership has found that 48% of nursing home workers have school-aged children.  These are overwhelmingly lower-income individuals with limited financial means and who heavily rely on public school systems’ breakfast and lunch programs.

“Per CDC directives, nursing homes are under strict lockdown and not allowing families to visit, which places an even higher emphasis on the need to ensure adequate staffing levels to maintain patient well-being.  Now more than ever, nursing homes should be staffing-up, not down.

“1199SEIU understands the importance of ‘social distancing’ at this time, but as schools shut their doors there must be plans in place to provide support to the healthcare workers on the frontlines.”