WHAT: Candlelight Vigil

WHO: 1199SEIU caregivers, residents, family, clergy, elected officials, community leaders

WHEN: Thursday, December 10 3:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Sprain Brook Manor Rehabilitation Center, 77 Jackson Ave., Scarsdale

On the heels of a successful public town hall meeting in November, Sprain Brook Manor nursing home workers are holding a candlelight vigil as part of their effort to urge the home’s owners, Allen “Ari” Stein, Lazar Strulovitch and Leopold Schwimmer---collectively worth over $33 million---to negotiate a contract that will upgrade working conditions, stabilize turnover and in turn improve quality and continuity of care. Clergy of diverse denominations will bring the group together in prayer and shine the light on justice for Sprain Brook's residents and caregivers.

The following are statements of support from some of the region’s most prestigious elected officials:

Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer: "Quality working conditions with stable workforce and low-turnover are essential for high quality resident care. I stand with the employees, as well as residents and their families, of Sprain Brook Manor in calling on the owners to comply with the National Labor Relation Board's (NLRB) orders to compensate employees in accordance with the law, ensuring quality care for residents and fair working conditions for employees."

Congressman Eliot Engel: "For those being cared for in nursing homes, our top priority must always be quality of care. The concerns that have been raised at Sprain Brook Manor by caregivers, residents, family members, and community leaders need to be addressed, regardless of the contract situation between ownership and the nursing home workers. These residents deserve to spend their golden years in a healthy and caring environment. That is why I stand in solidarity with the community to demand that our seniors receive the quality care they deserve.”

Yonkers City Council Member Michael Sabatino: "The healthcare employees of Sprain Brook Manor need a living wage, benefits and adequate staffing. Not having all of these impacts on the care of the residents and their families. I urge the management of the Sprain Brook to do the right thing and treat their employees fairly."

Voices of Sprain Brook workers:

Vernon Warren, a dietary aide who has worked at Sprain Brook for 14 years said, “There have been a lot of changes since 2012 when these owners took over. “I’ve worked for 5 bosses and many supervisors. A lot of staff come and go; it affects our whole operation. Dietary work requires training and some people only stay for a couple of weeks or even a couple of days. It’s difficult. I’m constantly training new people. A lot can go wrong with untrained staff. For example, diabetics have special diets and there are people that require chopped or pureed food and you have to stay on top of that. We want to provide residents with the nourishment they need. I’m filling in for things I never had to before, baking cakes and pie. Work has gone way up while pay and benefits have gone down. Vacation, sick time, benefits, everything was taken away. They even fired the entire dietary department in 2012 for being involved in pushing for a union contract. I keep up hope though. We’ve been fighting for years. I believe if we keep pushing that we’ll get the fair treatment we deserve for the work we do.”

Paula Robinson was a CNA at Sprain Brook Manor for 11 years when she finally left her job and the residents she loves in order to pay the bills at home. “I have to take care of myself and my family. The wages were so low and I didn’t have any health insurance. Short-staffing was so bad that sometimes I was the only CNA for an entire floor of 40 residents. It was not easy to leave the residents, but I felt like I had no choice. Less than a year ago I got a job at an 1199 nursing home and we have a good contract. The wages are good and I have health insurance. Co-workers have to call out sick once in a while, but the staffing is nothing like the situation at Sprain Brook. That’s how I know that a good contract can change things at Sprain Brook Manor. I’m going to the vigil to support myBackground and Issues at Sprain Brook Manor



• The nursing home workers at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab have been trying to settle a first contract since they voted to become members of 1199SEIU in 2005.



• The current owners, Lazar Strulovitch, Allen Stein, and Leopold Schwimmer took formal ownership of the facility in 2012 and have been increasingly hostile toward the workers, including illegally firing 5 members of the negotiating committee.



• After purchasing Sprain Brook Manor in 2012, these owners collectively worth over $33 million—withdrew more than $3 million in equity from the nursing home.



• Below market wages and no health benefits: Pay is near minimum wage for Sprain Brook service workers. Most CNAs are earning $10/hour, far below wage rates for 1199SEIU nursing home employers in the region. Most CNAs at 1199 facilities earn $16-$17/ hour and also have employer-provided health benefits.



• Non-compliance: Workers at Sprain Brook are without health benefits, even though the owners were court-ordered to reinstate a benefit plan comparable to what they took away in 2012. The owners have yet to fulfill their responsibility to provide health benefits.



• Unfair labor practices and decisions by federal court: The National Labor Relations Board has found Sprain Brook Manor guilty of numerous unfair labor practices and the federal court has issued an injunction against them.



Patient care concerns:



o Sprain Brook Manor is the worst in Westchester County and among the worst in the nation on key measures of resident health. These indicators (below) combined with their approach to managing staff make it clear the owners are more concerned about profit than quality care.



o Urinary Tract Infections: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of urinary tract infections of any nursing home in New York State. The percentage of long-stay residents at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab suffering from urinary tract infections is more than triple the averages for Westchester County, New York State, and the United States;



o Pressure Sores: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of pressure sores of any nursing home in Westchester County and the fourth worst in New York State. o Poor working conditions & escalating abuses;



o The workers are concerned about high staff turnover caused by poor working conditions (low pay, no health benefits and a heavy workload) and its impact on the quality of care for residents;



o The current owners began managing the nursing home in 2008 and formally took ownership in 2012. The hostility on the part of management escalated in 2012 when they unlawfully brought in subcontractors and cut the workers’ pay, benefits and time off;



o The owners continue to cut staff, leading to an unmanageable workload for caregivers. Staff cuts, low wages and a hostile work environment result in a revolving door of workers. Many come to work at the nursing home temporarily and with little experience. For the residents who count on the workers for both medical and emotional support, this lack of continuity of care presents critical problems.



Public Health and Health Planning Council, Project #142090, BFA Attachment B, reviewed December 4, 2014



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



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



- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/candlelight_vigil_shines_the_light_on_justice_at_sprain_brook_nursing_home#sthash.Itc53upZ.dpuf Background and Issues at Sprain Brook Manor



• The nursing home workers at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab have been trying to settle a first contract since they voted to become members of 1199SEIU in 2005.



• The current owners, Lazar Strulovitch, Allen Stein, and Leopold Schwimmer took formal ownership of the facility in 2012 and have been increasingly hostile toward the workers, including illegally firing 5 members of the negotiating committee.



• After purchasing Sprain Brook Manor in 2012, these owners collectively worth over $33 million—withdrew more than $3 million in equity from the nursing home.



• Below market wages and no health benefits: Pay is near minimum wage for Sprain Brook service workers. Most CNAs are earning $10/hour, far below wage rates for 1199SEIU nursing home employers in the region. Most CNAs at 1199 facilities earn $16-$17/ hour and also have employer-provided health benefits.



• Non-compliance: Workers at Sprain Brook are without health benefits, even though the owners were court-ordered to reinstate a benefit plan comparable to what they took away in 2012. The owners have yet to fulfill their responsibility to provide health benefits.



• Unfair labor practices and decisions by federal court: The National Labor Relations Board has found Sprain Brook Manor guilty of numerous unfair labor practices and the federal court has issued an injunction against them.



Patient care concerns:



o Sprain Brook Manor is the worst in Westchester County and among the worst in the nation on key measures of resident health. These indicators (below) combined with their approach to managing staff make it clear the owners are more concerned about profit than quality care.



o Urinary Tract Infections: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of urinary tract infections of any nursing home in New York State. The percentage of long-stay residents at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab suffering from urinary tract infections is more than triple the averages for Westchester County, New York State, and the United States;



o Pressure Sores: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of pressure sores of any nursing home in Westchester County and the fourth worst in New York State. o Poor working conditions & escalating abuses;



o The workers are concerned about high staff turnover caused by poor working conditions (low pay, no health benefits and a heavy workload) and its impact on the quality of care for residents;



o The current owners began managing the nursing home in 2008 and formally took ownership in 2012. The hostility on the part of management escalated in 2012 when they unlawfully brought in subcontractors and cut the workers’ pay, benefits and time off;



o The owners continue to cut staff, leading to an unmanageable workload for caregivers. Staff cuts, low wages and a hostile work environment result in a revolving door of workers. Many come to work at the nursing home temporarily and with little experience. For the residents who count on the workers for both medical and emotional support, this lack of continuity of care presents critical problems.



Public Health and Health Planning Council, Project #142090, BFA Attachment B, reviewed December 4, 2014



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



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



- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/candlelight_vigil_shines_the_light_on_justice_at_sprain_brook_nursing_home#sthash.Itc53upZ.dpufand Issues at Sprain Brook Manor



• The nursing home workers at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab have been trying to settle a first contract since they voted to become members of 1199SEIU in 2005.



• The current owners, Lazar Strulovitch, Allen Stein, and Leopold Schwimmer took formal ownership of the facility in 2012 and have been increasingly hostile toward the workers, including illegally firing 5 members of the negotiating committee.



• After purchasing Sprain Brook Manor in 2012, these owners collectively worth over $33 million—withdrew more than $3 million in equity from the nursing home.



• Below market wages and no health benefits: Pay is near minimum wage for Sprain Brook service workers. Most CNAs are earning $10/hour, far below wage rates for 1199SEIU nursing home employers in the region. Most CNAs at 1199 facilities earn $16-$17/ hour and also have employer-provided health benefits.



• Non-compliance: Workers at Sprain Brook are without health benefits, even though the owners were court-ordered to reinstate a benefit plan comparable to what they took away in 2012. The owners have yet to fulfill their responsibility to provide health benefits.



• Unfair labor practices and decisions by federal court: The National Labor Relations Board has found Sprain Brook Manor guilty of numerous unfair labor practices and the federal court has issued an injunction against them.



Patient care concerns:



o Sprain Brook Manor is the worst in Westchester County and among the worst in the nation on key measures of resident health. These indicators (below) combined with their approach to managing staff make it clear the owners are more concerned about profit than quality care.



o Urinary Tract Infections: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of urinary tract infections of any nursing home in New York State. The percentage of long-stay residents at Sprain Brook Manor Rehab suffering from urinary tract infections is more than triple the averages for Westchester County, New York State, and the United States;



o Pressure Sores: Sprain Brook Manor has the worst rate of pressure sores of any nursing home in Westchester County and the fourth worst in New York State. o Poor working conditions & escalating abuses;



o The workers are concerned about high staff turnover caused by poor working conditions (low pay, no health benefits and a heavy workload) and its impact on the quality of care for residents;



o The current owners began managing the nursing home in 2008 and formally took ownership in 2012. The hostility on the part of management escalated in 2012 when they unlawfully brought in subcontractors and cut the workers’ pay, benefits and time off;



o The owners continue to cut staff, leading to an unmanageable workload for caregivers. Staff cuts, low wages and a hostile work environment result in a revolving door of workers. Many come to work at the nursing home temporarily and with little experience. For the residents who count on the workers for both medical and emotional support, this lack of continuity of care presents critical problems.



Public Health and Health Planning Council, Project #142090, BFA Attachment B, reviewed December 4, 2014



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



RHCF-4 Cost Reports, FY 2011-2013



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



- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/candlelight_vigil_shines_the_light_on_justice_at_sprain_brook_nursing_home#sthash.Itc53upZ.dpufresidents and the people I used to work with. They all deserve better than what they have now."