(GETZVILLE, NEW YORK) – After some Unionized Nursing Home Workers at one of the last non-profit facilities here in Western New York reported their paychecks bounced, Workers may begin looking for work elsewhere. 

Beleaguered Staff - represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East in the Buffalo Suburb of Getzville, is becoming more and more frustrated about poor leadership and lack of communication over serious issues impacting them, Union Officials said. 

Workers recently protested over lack of retroactive pay, unpaid wage increases, unpaid benefits, and poor leadership at the facility. 

However, Weinberg management informed 1199 SEIU the bounced paychecks have been reissued and payroll for Workers - although late, will met. 

But for many of the Caregivers, this is a temporary fix. 

Workers are paid on a weekly basis and remain very concerned about their next paycheck, their unpaid benefits, and Weinberg’s ability to remain open without New York State funding and a transfer of ownership.  

1199SEIU Organizer Darlene Gates said: “Weinberg Campus CEO Robert Mayer notified the Union that lawyers were able to remove the lien on bank accounts - freeing up monies to pay Workers.  We want to make sure Workers are made whole - including assisting those who experienced bank overdrafts.  It’s a real hardship for many.  We cannot expect these Workers to go without consistent pay.  When you live paycheck to paycheck, you can’t provide for your family - and you can’t get to work to care for residents.  If Workers don’t show up, we may still be forced to call for an emergency evacuation of residents to other already overburdened care facilities in our region.”

1199 SEIU Vice-President Grace Bogdanove said: “For months, we have been doing everything within our power to keep the facility open.  Without immediate State funding to support a transfer of ownership, this facility will certainly close - displacing residents and the Workers who provide care.”

Caregivers at the Weinberg Campus are employed as Food Service Workers, Maintenance Workers, Cooks, Environmental Service Workers, Housekeeping, Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Personal Care Aides, Clerical Workers, Home Health Aides, and Community Home Health Aides.

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.