Nursing homes threaten to close

The government of five area nursing homes sensitive a union representing employees late Wednesday which it is considering filing applications with state officials to close a facilities.Workers during a West River Health Care Center in Milford, a Danbury Health Care Center, Long Ridge of Stamford, Westport Health Care Center as well as a Newington Health Care Center have been but a stipulate given Mar 2011, as well as a orator for a New Jersey-based government association pronounced representatives of District 1199, New England Health Care Workers have not agreed to any suggestive concessions.Employees during West River have been locked out given Dec. 13, while about 200 patients have been cared for by replacement workers. Employees during a alternative four comforts continue to work underneath a lapsed contract."The affiliated health caring centers have been dealing with a effects of a large 11.1 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement which took effect on October 1, as well as a potential additional 5 percent cut from a finish of organisation therapy, as have been all skilled nursing centers in Connecticut," association orator Ed Remilard pronounced in a news release. Michelle Baricko, on a picket line Thursday, pronounced which a threat to close West River as well as a alternative nursing homes might be a ploy, "but I didn't think they'd close us out but they did that. This wouldn't just put a workers on a street, but mislay people from their homes."The $700 a month for health insurance is like two paychecks," she said. "Most of us have been single mothers as well as a biggest fear is not being able to put food on a table for a kids."Union president David Pickus pronounced in a letter to HealthBridge profession Jonathan Kaplan on Thursday which a company's explain to be negotiating in great faith is untrue, given it has barely budged from its strange "take it or leave it" offer. The union is adamantly opposed to a closing of any HealthBridge facility.Union spokeswoman Deborah Chernoff pronounced Thursday morning which a company's letter "is nothing short of extortion. They have been holding a caring of 1,200 people hostage. They might as well have cut letters out of a newspaper: `Give me what we wish or else.' "Talks were scheduled for Feb. 23 as well as Feb. 29 before a association referred to which it might apply to close a five facilities. Those talks will likely go forward, Chernoff said. "But we have been confused either we're going to be negotiating over closure or for a brand brand new contract."Remillard pronounced in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media Group which no preference has been made to close any of a facilities. "We will bargain with a union in great faith over a preference to close," he said. "... The union has so far refused to agree to concessions which reflect today's economic realities, which include a cuts in Medicare reimbursement. It remains probable which a union can save a employees' jobs as well as keep a affiliated Health Care Centers open by agreeing to a proposed concessions."If a Danbury facility were to close, Remillard pronounced which officials would "work with a residents as well as their family members to have sure they have a brand brand new home as well as which a transition occurs with as little disruption as possible."HealthBridge has offered employees a 3 percent raise while shortening a workday to 7.5 hours from 8. Employees would no longer have a paid lunch period. While employees with a grant plan could retain it, a association would offer a brand brand new 401(k) plan as well as stop grant contributions, spokeswoman Lisa Crutchfield said.Chernoff pronounced a union has settled contracts with 40 alternative nursing homes in a past year, as well as most of those have employee grant skeleton as well as eight paid hours a day.The process of closing a nursing facility can be lengthy as well as complex. The association contingency file a obligation of need with a state Department of Social Services, a public hearing contingency be held as well as a association would have to prove which there have been enough beds in a state to accept their patients, officials said.Remillard pronounced a five nursing homes wish to negotiate their decisions to close. "It remains probable which a union can save a employees' jobs as well as keep a affiliated health caring centers open by agreeing to a employers' proposed concessions," he said. "The history of how a union has handled these negotiations, however, is not encouraging.''Libor Jany contributed to this report. fjuliano@ctpost.com; 203-520-6986; http://twitter.com/frankjuliano Powered By iWebRSS.co.cc

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