Nursing Home Workers Confront Buyout Giant

Nursing home workers were threatened with arrest Wednesday when they tried to meet with Carlyle CEO David Rubenstein at his Pennsylvania Avenue office. "They don't want to hear what has to be said," Tricia Miechur told UNION CITY. "How do they expect to get quality care when there's not enough staff?" asked Miechur, a Certified Nursing Assistant at a Manor Care facility in Pennsylvania. Miechur said that staffing at her facility has been cut since Manor Care was bought last year by Carlyle, a buyout company "that's known for running Dunkin Donuts and Avis cars: they squeeze companies and walk away," SEIU organizer Julie Eisenberg told UNION CITY. "We do give good care but we can't give 100% when there's not enough staffing," added Miechur. The delegation of workers eluded security guards posted in the lobby at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, only to be met at Carlyle's office inside by police who threatened to arrest them all, including a reporter from the Washington Post. After flyering outside the building in the rain, the delegation planned to attend contract negotiations scheduled for later Tuesday afternoon at a Maryland Manor Care nursing home. - report by Chris Garlock