AMHERST, N.Y. — The Weinberg Campus, a retirement community in Getzville, has recently gone through a number of financial and staffing issues. Those issues though seem to may lead to the campuses permanent closure.
At the beginning of October, our partners at Buffalo Business First had reported that leaders at the retirement campus were worried about millions of dollars in unpaid debts due to a failed acquisition effort.
Following those reports on Oct. 9, 2 On Your Side met with caregivers at the facility who had not yet received any of the raises they were promised during contract negotiations made on Aug. 1.
“We have not seen not one benefit from that signed agreement,” said Gates, an administrator with 1199SEIU — the union that represents the caregivers. “Not a dime. Not one dime. It doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem fair at all.”
Citing broken promises, 150 Weinberg employees joined the picket line for a strike.
Fast forward to now, as we make our way through the end of October, and things have not looked up for Weinberg's financial situation.
In a news release from the caregivers union, 1199SEIU said many people may begin looking for job opportunities elsewhere. The news release says that paychecks to workers last Friday from Weinberg bounced, making staff more and more frustrated.
According to Weinberg management, those bounced checks have since then be reissued despite being late. Although Weinberg employees are paid on a weekly basis, they remain concerned about next week's pay according to 1199SEIU.
“Weinberg Campus CEO Robert Mayer notified the union that lawyers were able to remove the lien on bank accounts – freeing up monies to pay workers,” said Darlene Gates, 1199SEIU Organizer. “Caregivers paychecks are expected to clear late today. We want to make sure workers are made whole – including assisting those workers who experienced bank overdrafts. It’s a real hardship for many,” said Gates.
“We can not expect these workers to go without consistent pay. When you live paycheck to paycheck, you can’t provide for your family and you can’t get to work to care for residents. If workers don’t show up, we may still be forced to call for an emergency evacuation of residents to other already overburdened care facilities in our region,” Gates said.
Added Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU Vice President: “For months, we have been doing everything within our power to keep the facility open. Without immediate state funding to support a transfer of ownership, this facility will certainly close — displacing residents and the workers who provide care."
“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.
The staff at Weinberg being affected by the situation includes:
- Food service workers
- Maintenance workers
- Cooks
- Environmental service workers
- Housekeeping
- CNA's
- LPN's
- Nurses
- PCA's
- Clerical workers
- Home health aides
- Community home health aides
In a letter to Weinberg Campus residents on October 18, Peter Fadeley the campus administrator wrote the following:
Dear Residents,
The Board and President and CEO of Weinberg Campus made a decision in August 2024 to create and submit a closure application to the New York State Department of Health. The decision was based on financial viability of the Rosa Coplon and being able to meet the resident needs. Once the application was submitted to the DOH, the formality was to not allow the facility to discuss the closure plan application while state reviewed and was able to make comments.
On October 18, 2024, the President and CEO received notice from the Department of Health that the closure plan was approved. As the Administrator of Rosa Coplon I received approval to announce the closure plan on October 23, 2024.
During the next few weeks, my team and I will work with every resident and family member so that the residents and family get to choose a nursing facility. I will ask that you select 3 nursing homes you are allowing to screen and make an offer on. Once that decision is made we will work with that facility to assist in the transfer process.
If you have any questions, please contact me via email as I will be monitoring all communications: pfadeley@weinbergcampus.org
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The Weinberg Campus has not yet publicly said that they are closing. They did post on their social media that they would be having an informational meeting for staff and the family of residents on Thursday, October 24 at multiple different times slots.
We will continue to keep this story updated as more information becomes available.