DETROIT – Healthcare workers at five nursing facilities in Southeast Michigan are on a 24-hour strike.
More than 300 SEIU healthcare workers walked off the job at 6 a.m. on May 20, 2025.
The union said they want increased wages, increased sick time and better health insurance.
The average hourly pay for an SEIU union nurse in Michigan is more than $33 an hour, with the top pay range at more than $56 an hour.
According to the union, the workers have been without contracts for months, accusing Ciena of not agreeing to retroactive pay back to the contract expiration.
Ciena Health said they have tried to reach an agreement on these issues and that they are not at an impasse.
24 hour strikes by members of SEIU Healthcare of Michigan are underway at five nursing facilities managed by Ciena Healthcare in Southeast Michigan. Each of these collective bargaining agreements are separate and distinct agreements not linked to each other.
First and foremost, our impacted facilities have made necessary preparations and are continuing to provide quality care to all residents during these strikes by SEIU Healthcare of Michigan.
These strikes at this time by SEIU Healthcare of Michigan are unnecessary given that (i) none of the collective bargaining agreements are at an impasse, (ii) two facilities are in the early stages of bargaining, (iii) SEIU Healthcare of Michigan has not been in a hurry to reach new agreements until now (failing to provide dates to bargain and canceling scheduled sessions) and (iv) at each bargaining table, the employer has offered numerous contract enhancements including wage increases for each year of the contract and for years of seniority. Simply stated, this strike is diverting attention away from bargaining to resolve the few remaining open issues in each agreement and we look forward to working with the Union to obtain favorable contracts for our employees.
Ciena Healthcare leadership appreciates the work done by all employees who are members of the collective bargaining units represented by SEIU Healthcare of Michigan and provide quality care to our residents on a daily basis.
David Parker, CEO of Ciena Healthcare
Care for residents will continue during the strikes, they said.
Here are the facilities where union workers are on the 24-hour strike:
- Boulevard Temple Care Center in Detroit
- Notting Hill of West Bloomfield in West Bloomfield Township
- Qualicare Nursing Home in Detroit
- The Regency at Chene in Detroit
- Regency at St. Clair Shores