Legacy Nutrition Workers Push Back Against Staff Cuts, Advocating for Patient Care and for Each Other

SEIU Local 49 Nutrition workers at Legacy Emanuel are standing up to management after sudden layoffs left their department short-staffed, underpaid, and overworked. 

When management announced a reduction in workforce, frontline workers immediately organized—demanding meetings to address how the changes would impact both patients and staff. Instead of collaborating, Legacy has slashed hours, ignored seniority rights, and piling extra work onto our AM hosts.

Workers say enough is enough. They delivered a petition to Legacy management calling for fairness, respect, and a real plan to protect patient care. 

“They schedule us for shifts with enough work for two people but expect one person to do it. It’s not sustainable. Now the AM shift has to do everything the PM shift was doing, which is far too much work. Meals could be delayed which could anger patients.” 

—Irene Sherma, Patient Dining Assistant at Legacy Emanuel

"People who have worked at Legacy for years are being pushed out. Management has been is laying off workers with more seniority than workers with less seniority—even if they both have the same work classification." 

—Amanda Henderson, Patient Dining Assistant at Legacy Emanuel

“People who are new and part time are getting preference while I’m put on call,” said Paris Parker, a Patient Dining Assistant and employee of Legacy for 5 years. “I understand not getting a job I bid on because someone with more seniority got it, but I haven’t been called about other jobs, either. My reality is that I’m worried without these hours I'll lose my home and access to my healthcare coverage.”

This fight isn’t just about the layoffs—it’s about management following our contract and honoring seniority. When hospitals cut nutrition staff, patients wait longer for meals, workers are forced into increased workloads, and entire care teams can be thrown into crisis. Legacy’s choices put profits over people, and frontline workers are left to pick up the pieces.