Nursing Home Workers Across WNY Continue Protests Over Staffing Levels At 3 More Long-Term Care Facilities Yesterday With 6 New Picket Sites Set For Next Week As Contracts For Nearly 4,000 Union Caregivers Expires At End Of Month
April 17, 2025
Contract talks for nearly 4,000 unionized workers at 27 different nursing homes in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, and Niagara Counties Began Late February As Some For-Profit Homes Engaged in Millions of Dollars In Related Party Transactions While Local Workers Lack Quality Health Insurance & Benefits
Caregivers in rural areas now join the growing call for improved staffing levels, benefits, and fair and living wages in homes across the region. Yesterday’s new pickets come as workers across Western New York are shining a light on the need for improved staffing, quality benefits, and fair and living wages to retain caregivers.
“I’m fighting for better insurance today,” said Sean Turpin, Certified Nurse Assistant at Gowanda Nursing Home.
Protests over staffing levels have now taken place at 12 different homes across WNY. Earlier this week, workers from Buffalo Center, Ellicott Center, and the Grand at Delaware Park joined protests. Last week Elderwood at Lockport, Elderwood at Williamsville, Autumn View Manor, Seneca Manor, Garden Gate Manor and North Gate participated in pickets calling on for-profit nursing home operators to improve staffing levels at the facilities by offering workers quality benefits and fair and living wages at the homes in Erie and Niagara counties.
More bedside caregivers and service workers at six facilities in Amherst, Williamsville, Tonawanda, Newfane, Lewiston and Gasport plan pickets next week. Caregivers will participate in informational picketing outside their facilities before/after work or during their lunch or break time next week. Nearly 4,000 caregivers at 27 nursing homes in four counties are represented by 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers union in the country.
Thousands of nursing home workers participating in the campaign are fighting for fair and living wages, quality affordable health insurance benefits, and pension improvements that will recruit and retain more workers to provide care for residents. Workers believe that a comprehensive benefits package including quality health insurance, training and education, and a childcare fund will improve staffing levels at area nursing homes.
Union members work as Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Dieticians, Social Workers, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants, Environmental Service Workers, Maintenance Workers, Dietary and Food Service Workers, Housekeeping & Laundry Workers, Clerical Workers, and Unit Clerks.
The first twelve pickets held this month signal the start of a bigger struggle for thousands of Western New York nursing home workers. Caregivers held marches on the boss at five different sites to demand better from their employers.[2] The video of workers marching on the boss at Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has now been viewed more than 50,000 times as workers put a face to the need for improved staffing in a Buffalo nursing home owned by Bronx-based Centers Healthcare.
“I enjoy interacting with my residents. We need more supplies and more staff to help care for them and that’s why we are picketing,” said Linda Fuller, Certified Nurse Assistant at Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation.
1199SEIU filed unfair labor practice charges against two of the largest for-profit WNY Nursing Home chains for bargaining in bad faith, with one refusing to negotiate at all.[3]1199SEIU filed unfair labor practice charges against both Elderwood and McGuire group. The McGuire Group has since agreed to negotiate with the union as of Monday, April 14.
Nursing home workers are part of an historic campaign that includes 27 different long-term care facilities in Erie, Niagara, Allegany, and Cattaraugus Counties. Of the facilities in contract talks, 24 are for-profit and 3 are not-for profit. There are common owners at 15 long-term care facilities including: RCA Group, Centers Healthcare, Elderwood Group, McGuire Group, Personal Healthcare, and the Sherman Family.
Negotiations for most began late February. Union contracts covering a majority of the nursing homes are set to expire April 30, 2025, with the exception of the two Elderwood facilities whose contract already expired. For-profit owners of Elderwood implemented their last, best, and final offer. Elderwood cut daily overtime, threatening adequate staffing on evening and overnight shifts, and changed the workers’ health insurance coverage.
“Elderwood cut off our daily overtime. A lot of facilities don’t offer daily overtime to help with staffing and it attracted people to work here. When management took that away, some people quit – it was a perk and people were depending on it. It’s time for us to unite and stand together as one and that’s why we will picket,” said Lois Lovett, Certified Nurse Assistant at Elderwood at Williamsville.
“Elderwood has bargained in bad faith by implementing sub-par wages and benefits without a mutual agreement with workers and refusing to come to the table to engage in contract talks,”said Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU Vice-President for WNY Nursing Homes. “Until just this week, the McGuire group was also refusing to bargain, further delaying much-needed wage and benefit increases that would provide for the recruitment and retention necessary to adequately staff these 4 homes,” said Bogdanove. “Just a couple years after the pandemic, these for-profit owners seem to have forgotten the sacrifice made by healthcare workers, and the continued sacrifices caregivers make on behalf of the residents they care for. These workers must also care for themselves and their families and need fair living wages and benefits to do so. As we proceed with contract negotiations at 27 facilities, we plan to engage in informational picketing at various locations to inform our communities about the critical issues that caregivers are fighting for," said Bogdanove.
Staffing levels are key sticking point in contract talks. According to CMS data reported January 1, 2025, Buffalo Center,[4] Ellicott Center[5], Elderwood at Lockport, and Elderwood Williamsville[6] all had total number of nurse staff hours rated below the national and state averages and workers are speaking out to demand improved staffing levels.
Informational pickets will be held at the following facilities next week from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM:
Monday, April 21
• Comprehensive Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, 147 Reist St, Williamsville NY 14221
• Press Conference at 2:15 PM
• Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, 2799 Sheridan Dr. #108, Tonawanda NY 14150
• Williamsville Suburban Care Center, 193 S Union Rd, Amherst, NY 14221
Tuesday, April 22
• Newfane – 2709 Transit Rd, Newfane NY 14108
Wednesday April 23
• Our Lady of Peace – 5285 Lewiston Rd, Lewiston NY 14092
• Press Conference at 3:00 PM
• Gasport – 4540 Lincoln Dr, Gasport NY 14067
Nearly 4,000 union nursing home members participating in the campaign provide care at:
• Absolut Care of Allegany – Professional & Technical
• Absolut Care of Aurora Park - Professional & Technical
• Autumn View Manor
• Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
• Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Williamsville
• Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Eden Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Elderwood at Lockport
• Elderwood at Williamsville
• Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing
• Fiddlers Green Manor
• Garden Gate Manor
• Gowanda Nursing Home
• Houghton Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Humboldt House Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Newfane Rehabilitation & Health Center
• North Gate Manor
• Our Lady of Peace
• Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns
• Salamanca Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Schoellkopf Health Center
• Schofield Residence
• Seneca Manor
• The Grand at Delaware Park
• Williamsville Suburban Care Center
On background:
The workers’ fight is part of a broader and more systemic problem facing many nursing homes in New York State. Most of the for-profit nursing home groups in WNY reported a loss in 2022[7] but at the same time many racked up millions and millions of dollars in related party transactions.
Related party transactions are a way for nursing homeowners to pay related companies they have ownership or interest in for services provided to the nursing home they own such as laundry, pharmaceuticals, and staffing.[8] The New York State Department of Health issued guidelines that owners must publicly disclose any related companies that provide services to a long-term care facility. Because the NYS DOH have not created a website to implement a standard uniform reporting system, some nursing homes are disclosing some of the required information on their websites.
According to 2022 NYS Cost Reports, Elderwood nursing homes reported a net loss of $2.6 million dollars while paying related companies they own $5.5 million dollars for services rendered at homes across WNY. Between 2020 to 2022, Elderwood at Williamsville withdrew $4.5 million dollars from nursing home operations.[9] The owners of 15 Elderwood facilities are Dr. Jeffrey Rubin and Warren Cole.[10] Both Rubin and Cole are also owners of Elderwood Administrative Services, Elderwood Development, LLC and Elderwood Staffing Solutions[11], a staffing agency.[12]
Centers Healthcare, a Bronx-based company is one of the largest nursing home operators in New York and New Jersey[13]. In 2024, New York Attorney General accused owners and related parties of intentionally understaffing facilities impacting quality of care for residents,[14] resulting in a $45 million settlement. Centers Healthcare is co-owned by Kenneth Rozenberg and Daryl Hagler. Buffalo Center[15] and Ellicott Center[16] are controlled and managed by Centers for Care LLC doing business as Centers Health Care.
Kenneth Rozenberg is majority owner of each facility’s operating entity.[17] The lawsuit brought by Attorney General James also alleged that Centers Healthcare owners withdrew $83 million dollars through related party transactions meant for patient care.[18]
In 2022, the owners of Gowanda Rehabilitation reported $1.2 million dollars in related party transactions to companies they own. According to NYS Department of Health, owners and operators of the southern tier facility are Esther Baarth, Batia Zagelbaum, Yoel Zagelbaum and Chaya Walden[19].
According to NYS Cost reports, the 4 McGuire Group nursing homes reported $17 million in financial losses but paid related party companies they own more than $25 million in services billed to facilities.[20] The sole owner of the McGuire Group is Long Island native, Edward Farbenblum[21].[22]
###
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.
____________________
[1] Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare
[2] https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AtsheFDfR/, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ACbJrwW5E/, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EKtFobVVP/, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15hsKURWcx/, https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BmFu9Hve6/
[3] Why one of WNY's largest nursing homes is only 66% full
[4] Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare
[5] Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare
[6] U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Care Compare, Nursing Homes Including Rehab Services, Staffing, Elderwood at Lockport and Elderwood at Williamsville, last visited on 4/8/2025 and available online at: https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
[7] New York State, Department of Health, 2022 RHCF Cost Reports
[8] Nursing homes will soon have to report deals with 'non-arms length' companies
[9] NYS DOH, 2018-2022 RHCF Cost Reports, search on 15 Elderwood Facilities, at Exhibit B, Statement of Changes in Fund Balances, Equity or Net Assets, at Unrestricted Withdrawals of Equity (column 1806, line 16).
[10] New York State Department of Health, Health.Data.NY.Gov, Nursing Home Profile, NH_Operator_members, Last Updated on 3/13/2025, last visited on 4/8/2025 and available online at: https://health.data.ny.gov/Health/Nursing-Home-Profile/dypu-nabu/about_data
[11] Elderwood Staffing Solutions Elderwood Careers
[12] Empire Center for Public Policy, Publications, Nursing Home Financial Reporting, Related Company ownership, last visited on 4/8/2025 and available online at: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/nursing-home-database-salaries/
[13] Get in Touch with Centers Health Care | Centers Health Care
[14] Office of the New York State Attorney General, Press releases, Attorney General James Sues Owners and Operators of Four Nursing Homes for Financial Fraud and Resident Neglect, June 28, 2023, https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2023/attorney-general-james-sues-owners-and-operators-four-nursing-homes-financial
[15] NYS DOH Nursing Home Profiles, Buffalo Center: https://profiles.health.ny.gov/nursing_home/view/150794
[16] NYS DOH Nursing Home Profiles, Ellicott Center: https://profiles.health.ny.gov/nursing_home/view/150364
[17] NYS Health Profile: Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
[18] New York nursing home operator to pay $45 million over claims it stole funds, neglected care | Reuters
[19] NYS Health Profile: Gowanda Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
[20] New York State, Department of Health, 2022 RHCF Cost Reports
[21] NYS DOH, Public Health and Health Planning Council, Agenda, VS Servicer at Beacon LLC d/b/a
Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing at Beacon, Project # 222053, at Program Analysis, March 27th, 2025, last visited on March 26, 2025 and available online at: https://health.ny.gov/facilities/public_health_and_health_planning_council/meetings/2025-03-27/docs/agenda.pdf
[22] New CEO named to oversee McGuire Group, Absolut Care, VestraCare networks - Buffalo Business First