Senior Arrested During Nursing Home Protest

BRIGHTON--A Harvard student was arrested last night after refusing to leave the Oakwood Nursing Home during a march protesting unfair working conditions at the home.

Rosslyn Wuchinich '99, together with seven other Harvard students affiliated with the Harvard Progressive Student Labor Movement, joined a protest march supporting employees at the nursing home, some of whom were fired after going on strike.

Twenty nurses, who all work for Oakwood, went on strike Sept. 13 after being denied a raise in payment and an improvement in employment conditions.

The workers asked for a raise from $7.10 per hour to $8.25, according to Simon Green, a member of the national office of Jobs with Justice, a coalition of labor community and religious organizations.

Green said SunRise, the company which owns Oakwood, refused the raise despite a large profit earned by the company last year. SunRise is the third-largest owner of nursing homes in the U.S.

"The CEO's salary increased by 664 percent to reach a 'modest' $6.5 million per year," he said.

The workers also complained that SunRise hired untrained workers to replace the fired Certified Nursing Assistants.

One of the leaders of the movement, Myrlene Lauriston, a former Oakwood employee, said, "I've been working there for three and a half years. The working conditions are bad and getting worse."

She said the striking nursing staff is trying to help the patients of the nursing home but "it is tough."

The protest march started yesterday afternoon at 5 p.m. in front of the home. About 70 people, mostly local residents and former employees, joined the march. The marchers said they were worried that quality of care at the home has suffered since the strike began.

At 5:30 p.m., a delegation made up of city councilors, members of the clergy and protestors--including Wuchinich--entered the home to discuss the situation with representatives of SunRise.

Wuchinich was selected to join the delegation since she worked as an intern for Jobs with Justice this summer.

Ben D. Tolchin '01, who participated in the march, said the Harvard studentstook part in the march to support the residents'desire for the nursing personnel to be rehired.

"[Wuchinich] went into the home together withcity councilors and religious leaders to talk withthe manager. She's going to stay there" Tolchinsaid as Wuchinic entered the home.

At 6:05 p.m., Father Edward Boyle of theCatholic Labor Guild came out to report on theprogress made by the delegation.

"It was not the type of meeting we wanted," hesaid.

Allston-Brighton City Councilor Brian Homanthen exited and addressed the crowd.

"Seven people refused to leave and are about tobe arrested," he said.

At 6:15 p.m., the seven people--includingWuchinich--were escorted out of Oakwood inhandcuffs by a dozen police officers and wereloaded into two police vehicles.

The seven were arrested for "refusing to leavethe premises," said Daniel R. Morgan '99, whowaited outside the home.

The nursing workers are supported by theService Employees International Union, which hasover 10,000 members state-wide with two-thirds inhelp care, according to union leader Celia Vcislo.

Vcislo promised the marchers that they "will beback.

"[Wuchinich] went into the home together withcity councilors and religious leaders to talk withthe manager. She's going to stay there" Tolchinsaid as Wuchinic entered the home.

At 6:05 p.m., Father Edward Boyle of theCatholic Labor Guild came out to report on theprogress made by the delegation.

"It was not the type of meeting we wanted," hesaid.

Allston-Brighton City Councilor Brian Homanthen exited and addressed the crowd.

"Seven people refused to leave and are about tobe arrested," he said.

At 6:15 p.m., the seven people--includingWuchinich--were escorted out of Oakwood inhandcuffs by a dozen police officers and wereloaded into two police vehicles.

The seven were arrested for "refusing to leavethe premises," said Daniel R. Morgan '99, whowaited outside the home.

The nursing workers are supported by theService Employees International Union, which hasover 10,000 members state-wide with two-thirds inhelp care, according to union leader Celia Vcislo.

Vcislo promised the marchers that they "will beback.