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For Members

Tony Abrom

Dietary / Ingleside at Rock Creek / Washington, DC

During his 21 years at Ingleside at Rock Creek, Tony Abrom has done every food service job.  He’s been a potwasher, dishwasher, waiter in the dining room, salad bar coordinator, and a cook.  Now, he’s adding two more titles – 1199SEIU Member, and Union Delegate.

After 18 months of negotiating, workers at Ingleside at Rock Creek signed their first contract on September 25, 2007.  The workers at the prestigious continuing care facility administered by the Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, voted in January 2006 to join 1199SEIU. 

Under current management, scheduling and staff has been a problem.  Tony says that he does the work of two people – stocking, doing dishes, bussing tables, running between buildings, updating foods, and serving patients. 

“It’s real hectic because of lowered staffing, and the new management cut hours and seniority,” says Tony.  “Four nurses have to care for 40 patients who need a lot of help.  They’ve got to get patients up, fed, and dressed.  It’s too much work for them to do their jobs and keep their patients healthy.”

Tony says he’s stayed at Ingleside, despite the working conditions, because of the patients.  “I make sure that everyone gets the right foods.  I know all the patients’ likes and dislikes.  And they love me back and miss me when I’m not there.”

Under earlier management, Tony, a diabetic, had a stroke in an unventilated kitchen that was almost 100 degrees.  The stroke sent him into a coma and Tony was in the hospital for 22 days.  While the kitchen has since been repaired, Ingleside workers are still working under substandard and sometimes dangerous conditions.
 
Since the workers came together to organize, Tony says, “Human resources is playing too many games.  They are picking on Union members but we’re the ones who are keeping the home going.”  He adds, “New workers are getting paid more than long-term employees and I’m training them.”

When Tony was first elected to be a Delegate, he went to advocate for workers with human resources and was not recognized as their representative.

But at a recent meeting with head of dietary services, the manager asked Tony if they could work as a team.  Tony says, “I’m getting more respect from management now – and I know that now we have our Union contract, we’ll get even more respect.”