Tammy Ramsey and Diedra Mays are two of more than 70 members of UMWA Local Union 105 in District 17 who work at Parkview Nursing Home. The 120-bed facility located in Pikeville, KY provides area patients with both short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing care, including end-of-life services.
The Union has been the bargaining agent at Parkview since 1997 representing all the employees at the facility who are no supervisors. The members include; Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), maintenance, laundry, housekeeping, kitchen and activities staff. Work shifts vary from 12 hours a day for CNAs to between 7 1/2 and 8 hours for the other classification.
“These are some of the most experienced and caring people I know,” said International District 17 Vice President Joe Carter. “Working in health care can really take a toll on you both physically and mentally, especially in a nursing home where each patient’s needs can be so different from every other. It’s such specialized care and every member working at Parkview plays such an important role in the lives of the patients. They are truly special people.”
Deidra has been working at the nursing home since 1999 and is currently serving as L.U. 105 Recording Secretary. Tammy, who is the Local President, began working at the facility in 1989. Both have experienced the stresses working at a nursing home can have on the employees.
“The physical aspects of caring for some patients can be overwhelming at times,” stated Tammy. “Lifting patients from the beds to the shower or onto chairs and making sure they have the assistance they need during the day can be difficult. We see our share of sprains, strains, and sometimes worse injuries among the staff.”
