1199SEIU, Weinberg Campus Board Chairman, and Schofield Residence Board Chairperson send joint letter to New York State Department of Health as workers picket over unpaid wage increases, unpaid benefits and Weinberg’s failure to pay retroactive earnings

Getzville, NY - Nursing home workers at one of the last non-profit facilities in Western New York averted a two-day strike earlier this year but today they hit the picket line over lack of retroactive pay, unpaid wage increases, unpaid benefits, and poor leadership at the facility near Amherst. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East.  

“Weinberg needs to do better by us, by the residents, and by the family members,” said Toni Banks, 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,” said Banks. 

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

This week, 1199SEIU, Weinberg Campus Board Chairman, and Schofield Residence Chairperson signed a joint letter asking the NYS 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 at Weinberg Campus have been shut down. Lack of nursing home beds could create a back log at area hospitals.  

“We have 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 the workers what they are owed for the time they worked,” said Crystallynn Lewis-Bryant, Licensed Practical Nurse.

The 18-month contract voted in by workers just months ago included wage increases based on years of service, 10-step wage scale, pension increases, 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 the boss in President & CEO Robert Mayer’s office last week when their paychecks didn’t reflect the wage increase. Retroactive increases ranged from 2.25% to 2.75% based on years of experience dating back to November 1, 2023.  Caregivers have now filed a class action grievance against Weinberg Campus.  

1199SEIU launched a public campaign during the summer demanding that the President and CEO Robert T. Mayer and Weinberg’s entire Board of Directors be replaced.  A public petition^[1] has been circulating, gathering hundreds of signatures from community members and resident families.

Over the last year, caregivers have fought hard to lobby state officials to secure millions in Vital Access Provider Funding^[2] and significant increases to Medicaid Reimbursement^[3] rates for the struggling non-profit facility.  

Despite additional state funding, Weinberg Campus is behind on payments for employee benefits such as healthcare, pension, and other earned entitlements. Payments to vendors providing these benefits to workers are delinquent.   

Caregivers at Weinberg Campus are 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. 

On background:

CEO Bob Mayer is one of the highest paid leaders in Western New York. In 2022, Robert T. Mayer, President and CEO of Weinberg Campus earned more than $353,000 including salary, pension, and other benefits,^[4] while some caregivers live paycheck to paycheck. 

As a non-profit, Weinberg Campus is led by a Board of Directors including: Board President Kenneth A. Rogers, Lawrence Cohen, John Craik, Ryan Gellman, Robert Mayer, Monica Neuwirt, and Orrin Tobbe.This is the same board of directors that decided to put a halt to a potential sale to a for-profit ownership group back in 2017.^[5]  

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^[1] Weinberg Campus (weinbergleadersmustgonow.com)
^[2] Vital Access Providers (ny.gov)
^[3] Tentative deal would raise Medicaid spending in New York (spectrumlocalnews.com)
^[4] Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, 2022 Form 990, Rosa Coplon Jewish Home and Infirmary, EIN # 16-0743145, at Schedule J, Part II, Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees, last accessed on 7/22/24 and available online at:  https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/160743145/202430959349300033/full

^[5] How Weinberg Campus plans to remain a nonprofit senior care provider after terminated sale | WBFO