Royal Health Group has spent an estimated annual $1 million on agency staff while offering frontline caregivers only a 2.5% wage increase
Swansea & Fall River, MA - Frontline union caregivers at Country Gardens and Carvalho Grove nursing homes will hold simultaneous informational pickets Wednesday, May 6 from 2:30 - 4:00PM. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- WHAT: Country Gardens & Carvalho Grove Nursing Home Joint Informational Pickets
- WHERE: Country Gardens: 2045 Grand Army Hwy, Swansea, MA 02777 | Carvalho Grove: 273 Oak Grove Ave, Fall River, MA 0272
- WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 2:30 - 4:00PM
- WHO: Frontline caregivers who are members of SEIU 1199NE as well as community supporters
Contact: Communications Office of SEIU 1199NE at 860-280-6443 or comms@seiu1199ne.org
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District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 7,500 members.1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.