Dozens of West River Health Care Center workers were locked out today after they failed to reach a contract agreement with management.

The patients of the health care center were being treated today by temps, leaving many relatives angry.

Workers armed with banners staged a rally outside the facility beginning at 6:30 a.m., protesting against Healthbridge Management's decision to lock them out. Officials say the lockout will continue until an agreement is reached.

Since the nurses at the facility are non-union, they were allowed to continue working.

Healthbridge officials say they offered workers a salary increase of 8 percent a year for the first year and then increases of 1.5 percent the year after that.

Workers say those increases are not enough, and they will continue to protest for as long as necessary.