Punishing workers erodes justice, dignity and the care our communities rely on
LANSING, Mich., June 5, 2025 — State Rep. Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit) is calling on Ciena Healthcare, one of Michigan’s largest nursing home companies, to immediately reinstate workers who were allegedly terminated in retaliation for exercising their right to strike. The workers, represented by SEIU Healthcare Michigan, walked off the job for one day on May 20 to advocate for better working conditions, fair wages and respect on the job.
“What’s happening to these nursing home workers is part of a larger pattern — where frontline Black and Brown workers, especially women, are undervalued, underpaid and punished for speaking out,” Myers Phillips said. “These caregivers are not just fighting for a fair contract — they’re pushing back against a system that too often ignores the voices of those doing the hardest work. I stand with them because their fight is about equity, justice and building a community where every worker is seen, heard and respected.”
According to complaints filed by SEIU Healthcare Michigan with the National Labor Relations Board, Ciena disciplined and fired workers at multiple facilities — including Boulevard Temple Care Center in Detroit — after the union provided legal notice for the 24-hour strike. The complaint accuses Ciena of illegal retaliation, including intimidation, surveillance and discouraging participation in union activity.
Myers Phillips joined the workers striking at the Boulevard Temple Care Center to show her support and hear firsthand their experiences. She is urging Ciena to stop the retaliation, return all workers to their job and negotiate a fair contract that respects the dignity and contributions of all workers.
“I stood with these workers on the picket line because I believe in the dignity of their work and the justness of their cause,” Myers Phillips shared. “These are the same people who care for our parents, grandparents and most vulnerable neighbors. They deserve better than threats and termination for fighting for their legally-protected rights.”
The affected facilities include Boulevard Temple Care Center in Detroit, Notting Hill of West Bloomfield, Qualicare Nursing Home in Detroit, Regency at Chene in Detroit and Regency at St. Clair Shores. SEIU Healthcare Michigan continues to call for a contract that addresses the chronic understaffing and low wages that have long plagued the nursing home industry.
“Ciena must do the right thing: reinstate these workers, respect their rights and commit to building a workplace rooted in fairness and dignity,” Myers Phillps said.
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