Workers Say Downstate Homeowners Negotiated A number of Staffing Incentives at Tonawanda Nursing Home However Now Will Not Pay For Shifts Already Labored

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, October 24, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — WHO: Nursing Home Workers

WHAT: Informational Picket

WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2023

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

WHERE:

**Safire Rehabilitation of the Northtowns, 2799 Sheridan Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150

** Press Convention at 3:30pm **

WHY: Caregivers hit exhausting by COVID-19 during the last a number of years have been working with out employer promised Bonuses since January 2023. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East.

Union members say they agreed to a wide range of bonuses to assist correctly workers the Tonawanda facility with nurses and aides to assist look after residents. There are three bonuses employees ought to be receiving from the downstate for-profit possession group, however haven’t been paid in months or have been paid intermittently.

“We’re owed 1000’s of {dollars} in bonuses that we have been promised and agreed upon,” stated Jennifer Sicignano, Licensed Sensible Nurse. “It was previous apply and it had been paid. The employer stopped it abruptly with none rhyme or motive. We come in and do our job and we work further to assist with our households. We come in and get our paycheck and it’s 3/4 lower than what you anticipated. After we strive to carry it to the homeowners, they inform us we’re grasping and ungrateful, however we labored for it and took care of our residents and promised the bonuses,” stated Sicignano.

1199SEIU negotiated a COVID bonus, a pick-up Shift bonus, and a short-staffing bonus with the employer. For workers who work on a unit with energetic COVID-19 instances, the agreed upon bonus is $35 per shift. To help with filling open shifts, alleviate essential staffing, and enhance resident care, the agreed upon pick-up shift bonus is $50-$75 per shift. Lastly, when the employer is unable to fill open shifts and staff are working brief in consequence, the agreed upon staffing bonus is $100 per shift (growing to $150 per shift when an worker works alone on a unit).

Initially, the homeowners of Safire Rehabilitation applied bonuses with no signed settlement. Nonetheless, lately and with out discover, the employer unilaterally ceased a few of the bonuses, whereas sustaining others. In an effort to implement these agreements, 1199SEIU has filed grievances and requested arbitration. The for-profit employer has continued to delay the method, refusing to settle for supplied dates for conferences and verbally providing settlements with little to no follow-through. In some instances, funds have been made to employees, although incorrectly, additional complicating efforts in the direction of decision.

More lately this week, after one more assembly, a settlement was practically attainable to pay the monies owed and to proceed the bonuses shifting ahead. Nonetheless, the employer once more refused to signal the settlement and subsequently additionally ceased paying the COVID bonuses. Just a few weeks later, Administration failed to pay a quarterly shift bonus that has been in place because the earlier contract greater than 2 years in the past and has since promised and failed twice to pay it.

With the recurrence of COVID in the power, staff say the COVID bonus is owed since September. “Since September 19, we had the very first case of COVID,” stated Jennifer Sicignano, Licensed Sensible Nurse. At the moment, we’re to get $35 per day for those who labored on the ground with a COVID affected person. Everybody who works on the ground with a COVID affected person, ought to get that pay. We’ve gone 3 paychecks with out the COVID pay per day owed,” stated Sicignano.

About 70 Nursing dwelling employees on the facility in Tonawanda are represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East work as Licensed Nurse Assistants, Licensed Sensible Nurses, and Unit Clerks.

On Background:

In accordance to the New York State Division of Well being, Safire Care of the Northtowns is a 100-bed facility and is owned and operated by Judy Landa, Richard Platschek, Solomon Abramczyk, Robert Schuck, and Moshe Steinberg[1].

In 2022, the nursing dwelling obtained a documented advantageous for short-staffing.[2] In accordance to Heart for Medicaid Companies, Safire Rehabilitation of the Northtowns was out of compliance with staffing requirements 45 out of 90 days in the 4th quarter final 12 months.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the most important and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We symbolize over 400,000 nurses and caregivers all through Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to obtain high quality care and good jobs for all.

www.1199seiu.org

[1] NYS Well being Profile: Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, LLC

[2] Two Safire nursing properties fined $56,000 for violations (buffalonews.com)

April Ezzell
1199SEIU Communications
+1 716-449-1620
[email protected]