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Conn. Nursing home workers hopeful about end to strike

Striking nursing home workers in Connecticut are hopeful about returning to work after five months on the picket lines, but the company that owns the homes is fighting a judge's order to reinstate the workers by Monday.

About 50 of the 600 striking workers rallied Wednesday outside Newington Health Care Center, one of the five homes owned by Parsippany, N.J.-based HealthBridge Management where workers are on strike. They cheered Tuesday's ruling by federal Judge Robert Chatigny.

Chatigny ruled that HealthBridge failed to bargain in good faith before imposing a contract in June on workers with District 1199 of the New England Health Care Employees Union. Workers call the contract oppressive.

HealthBridge's lawyers filed court documents Wednesday saying they are appealing Chatigny's order to a federal appeals court.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Lucas Willard is a news reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011. He produces and hosts The Best of Our Knowledge and WAMC Listening Party.