GETZVILLE, N.Y. — There’s a message on the doors outside Weinberg Campus in Getzville that reads, “Thank you Staff, you all are heroes.”
But Darlene Gates says the actions of the senior living facility say something else.
On Aug. 1, Weinberg Campus and its 300 workers struck a deal, agreeing to an 18-month contract with raises up to nearly 3% and retro pay.
But now over two months later, Gates says they haven’t seen any of it.
“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.”
That’s what led to a protest Wednesday with 150 workers joining in the picket line, demanding Weinberg to hold up their end of the agreement.
But because the union has a contract, a protest is as far as they can go.
“It makes the workers feel like they should be able to strike, but the workers understand that the residents are the most important things that they have to take care of,” Gates said. “Weinberg is like their second home.”
But the caregivers fear they may be losing that second home, as Weinberg has not given them any sense of why this is happening, raising concerns about its future.
“They want to know. They want answers,” Gates said. “They want to know what's going to happen to them next. Should they go out looking for another job? They don't know what to do.”
Those are questions they’re now hoping the state can answer. Earlier this week, Weinberg’s board chairman, 1199SEIU, and Board Chairperson of Schofield leadership sent a letter to the New York State Department of Health asking that they provide funding to support a transfer of ownership to Lineage group in an effort to support the struggling facility.
Hundreds have also signed an online petition demanding that leadership at Weinberg Campus be replaced and that the CEO step down.
They’re hoping this change will make it so they receive more thanks than just a message on the front door.
“The workers there want to keep their jobs and want to continue to provide quality care to the residents,” Gates said. “But Weinberg has let them down in so many ways.”
2 On Your Side reached out to Weinberg for a statement but did not hear back.