(GETZVILLE, NEW YORK) – 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East-represented Nursing Home Workers employed at one of the last non-profit facilities in Western New York averted a two-day Strike earlier this year, but today (Wednesday, October 10th) they hit the picket line over lack of retroactive pay, unpaid wage increases, unpaid benefits and poor leadership at the facility in Suburban Buffalo. 

The Workers, who held the job action outside the Weinberg Campus in Getzville, are employed as Food Service Workers, Maintenance Workers, Cooks, Environmental Service Workers, in Housekeeping, as Certified Nurse Assistants, as Licensed Practical Nurses, as Personal Care Aides, as Clerical Workers, as Home Health Aides and Community Home Health Aides.

In a show of support, the Unionized Caregivers were joined on the picket line by New York State Senator Sean Ryan, State Assemblymember Karen McMahon and Town of Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa. 

“Weinberg needs to do better by us, by the residents and by the family members,” said Toni Banks, an Environmental Support Worker.  “Nobody wants this place to close.  Nobody!  Everybody wants their job.  Everybody wants to come here and take care of these people.”

This week, 1199 SEIU, Weinberg Campus Board Chairman and the Schofield Residence Chairperson signed a joint letter asking the New York State Department of Health to provide funds to support a transfer of ownership to Schofield Residence.

Concern among Nursing Home Workers is growing as some beds inside the Weinberg Campus have been shut down, 1199 SEIU said, adding a lack of beds could create a backlog at area hospitals. 

Meanwhile, the 18-month contract approved by Workers just months ago included wage increases based on years of service, a 10-step wage scale, pension increases, a shift differential, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a paid holiday.

Workers say they have not received any of the wage increases or retroactive pay owed to them and held an impromptu march on President & CEO Robert Mayer’s office last week when their paychecks didn’t reflect the wage increase.

“We’ve worked in difficult conditions.  We put in time and effort to help the facility maintain quality care for residents.  It’s only right to pay Workers what they are owed for the time they worked,” said Crystallynn Lewis-Bryant, a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Retroactive increases ranged from 2.25% to 2.75% based on years of experience dating back to November 1st, 2023. 

Caregivers have now filed a class action grievance against Weinberg Campus. 

1199 SEIU launched a public campaign during the Summer demanding Mayer and Weinberg’s entire Board of Directors be replaced. 

A public petition has been circulated, gathering hundreds of signatures from community members and resident families, Union Officials said.

Over the last year, Caregivers have lobbied State Officials to secure millions in Vital Access Provider Funding and significant increases to Medicaid Reimbursement rates for the struggling non-profit facility. 

Despite additional State funding, Weinberg Campus is behind on payments for Employee benefits such as health care, pension and other earned entitlements.

Payments to vendors providing these benefits to Workers are also delinquent, Union Officials added.

Mayer, meanwhile, is one of the highest paid leaders in Western New York. 

In 2022, he earned more than $353,000 including salary, pension and other benefits, while some Caregivers live paycheck to paycheck, Union Officials said.

As a non-profit, Weinberg Campus is led by a Board of Directors that includes Board President Kenneth Rogers, Lawrence Cohen, John Craik, Ryan Gellman, Robert Mayer, Monica Neuwirt and Orrin Tobbe - the same Board of Directors that decided to put a halt to a potential sale to a for-profit ownership group back in 2017. 

1199 SEIU, whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, is the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in America – representing more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers throughout the States of Florida, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Maryland, and in Washington, D.C.

Photo Courtesy Of 1199 SEIU's Facebook Page.