Nursing home workers in Fall River and Swansea planning to picket over contract dispute with new employer

Swansea & Fall River, MA – Frontline union caregivers at Country Gardens and Carvalho Grove nursing homes will hold simultaneous informational pickets Wednesday, according to their union.

The union states that nursing home workers, who are members of SEIU 1199 New England, have been attempting to bargain a contract with their new employer, Royal Health Group, which the state appointed to manage the day-to-day operations after it placed both facilities in receivership in October 2024 from then-owner, Alpha Healthcare.

The union claims that “since then, Royal Health Group has balked at offering a fair wage to its workforce who have not had a raise since spring of 2024, citing costs associated with utilization of temporary staffing agencies at both facilities that have equaled an estimated $1 million in one year alone. Workers are demanding Royal Health Group invest in its own dedicated staff to boost recruitment and retention and improve resident care.” 

According to the union, Royal Health Group is offering frontline caregivers a 2.5% wage increase.

SEIU 1199NE represents around 120 workers at both facilities, including CNAs, dietary housekeeping, activities, and various service and maintenance positions at both facilities and nurses at Country Gardens.

Fall River Reporter contacted Royal Health Group for comment and have not yet heard back.