Top WNY Leaders Called on NYS Department of Health To Save Weinberg Campus By Funding & Approving Receivership^[1]

Largest Non-Profit Nursing Home Announced Plan To Close Amid Management’s Inability To Consistently Pay Workers As Their Health Insurance Coverage Lapses

 WHO: Healthcare Workers, Resident Families, and Concerned Community Members

WHAT: Informational Picket 

WHEN: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM 
5:00 PM Press Conference

WHERE: New York State Department of Health 
Ellicott Square Building at 295 Main St | Buffalo, NY 14203

WHY?: Time is running out for the New York State Department of Health to approve receivership of Weinberg Campus to Lineage Care Group, allowing residents to stay in their homes. Caregivers plan to take their message directly to decision makers in an effort to save one of the last non-profit nursing homes in Western New York. 

Leaders say a receivership plan has been submitted to the State Department of Health and would protect continuity of care for residents and maintain non-for profit status.  

“This is an outrageous decision that has to be reversed,” said Congressman Kennedy at a press conference held earlier today at the Campus in Getzville. “If Rosa Coplon on Weinberg campus closes people are going to die. That’s what happens when these homes close, that is a fact,” said Congressman Kennedy.^[2]

“For months, we have been doing everything within our power to keep the facility open,” said Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU Vice-President.  Immediate state funding to support a transfer of ownership will keep Weinberg open – allowing residents and their families to continue receiving the quality care they deserve from our dedicated union members,” said Bogdanove. 

 “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. 

 On Background:

Last week, New York State Department of Health announced its plan to close one of the largest non-profit nursing homes in Western New York. Weinberg Campus is set to close before November 30, displacing more than 140 residents and 300 of their caregivers,^[3] diminishing continuity of care which is critical to their well-being. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.  

Recently, workers protested over lack of retroactive pay, unpaid wage increases, unpaid benefits, and poor leadership^[4] at the facility near Amherst. 1199SEIU has filed a demand to bargain over the effects of the impending closure including unpaid wages and benefits for workers. 

 Some nursing home workers at Weinberg Campus reported bounced paychecks, late direct deposits, negative bank accounts, high overdraft fees, and now cancelled health insurance coverage.^[5]

Beleaguered staff are becoming more and more frustrated about poor leadership and lack of communication over serious issues impacting them including the impending closure. Workers say the lack of communication from CEO Robert Mayer is at issue and have not seen him at the facility in recent weeks to provide any leadership through this crisis, although Mayer issued a statement to press.^[6]

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 earlier this month. 

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 and nursing homes.  

“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 union 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 month 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^[7] 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^[8] and significant increases to Medicaid Reimbursement^[9] 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.  Health insurance benefits for workers also lapsed, leaving many with medications and the care they need for themselves and their families.  

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. 

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,^[10] while some caregivers live paycheck to paycheck. 

Mayer also serves as Director of Leading Age New York.^[11]  

As a non-profit, Weinberg Campus is led by a Board of Directors including: 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.^[12]  

 Embattled Weinberg Campus Board Chairman Ken Rogers recently resigned his long-time position.^[13]

____________________

^[1] Politicians balk at plan to close Rosa Coplon Living Center (buffalonews.com)
^[2] Elected officials propose transfer of ownership to save Amherst nursing home | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
^[3] Weinberg Campus nursing home in Amherst to shut down (buffalonews.com)
^[4] Weinberg Campus nursing home workers protest unpaid raises, benefits | wgrz.com
^[5] Weinberg Campus nursing home workers say paychecks bounced | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
^[6] Weinberg Campus announces plan to close Rosa Coplon Living Center (wkbw.com)
^[7] Weinberg Campus (weinbergleadersmustgonow.com)
^[8] Vital Access Providers (ny.gov)
^[9] Tentative deal would raise Medicaid spending in New York (spectrumlocalnews.com)
^[10] 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
^[11] Robert Mayer, Vice President/Finance, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus, Coach - LeadingAge New York (leadingageny.org)
[12] How Weinberg Campus plans to remain a nonprofit senior care provider after terminated sale | WBFO
^[13] Weinberg Campus chairman resigns as financial concerns remain unresolved - Buffalo Business First (bizjournals.com)