Dear Friend:

We've been looking forward to the day when we could write this letter to you.

District 1199 is proud to announce that the two-and-a-half year strike/lockout at Avery Heights nursing home has been settled.  Persistence paid off and these dedicated employees have won an important struggle - not just for money, but also for their right to have a united voice on the job.

We want to thank you for your support and explain what the settlement means.  We also want to discuss where we go from here because workers still need your help.

First, let us express our gratitude for your confidence in the Avery Heights workers.  So many people stepped forward to walk the picket, donate money to support striking families, and stand up in support of the strike - even when it wasn't the popular opinion.  Knowing that important community leaders like you believed in the effort gave all of us the extra strength to carry on.

We first came to the strike impasse over wages and benefits, but the fight quickly turned in something much bigger.  When Avery Heights refused the employees' offer to return to work back in January 2000, it became clear that the management was not worried about money - their goal was to break the union.

That's why it has been so important to hold out for a contract that left no worker behind.  We had to stop their campaign to divide and conquer us.  And, with your support, we have been able to do so.

The breakthrough came when Avery Heights, for the first time, agreed to bring everyone who went on strike back to work within a specific timeframe.  Every worker who was locked out must be offered his or her job back.

In addition, the management has agreed to pay raises and significantly more money for health insurance and pension plans.  They have also withdrawn other proposed cutbacks.

Why did Avery Heights change their tune?  It's anyone's guess.  But we do know that public pressure and dogged picketing through rain, sleet, snow, and sun forced the management to take our concerns - and our commitment - seriously.

All in all, we think this contract is a good first step towards rebuilding a relationship of trust, and we hope Avery Heights does, too.

Having said that, it's obvious that we did not win everything we wanted.  Wages still lag behind the average.  Management still won't support the training fund, which helps employees earn a degree or learn advanced skills.  And Avery Heights still refuses to comply with a federal judge's order to compensate workers for back pay and benefits during the lockout.

So while this battle has come to a close, the struggle for workers' rights at Avery Heights continues.  It will take a lot of work to implement the new contract, and we must maintain constant vigilance to protect workers from any anti-union retaliation.

We will keep you informed about our progress at Avery Heights.  We hope we can write soon to say that all outstanding issues are resolved.  But in the meantime, thank you once again for your continued support.

In solidarity,