SKANEATELES - A Syracuse health-care management company is not being fair in the way it funds an area nursing home, according to a local health-care workers union.
The union took its concerns to the public Friday when about 25 members of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East gathered in front of The Athenaeum of Skaneateles, an exclusive adult home. The nurses, aides and other caregivers raised signs and passed out pamphlets pointing out what they are calling unfair treatment of employees at Lakeside Nursing Home in Ithaca.
According to union representative Baschki Leo, the company that runs both facilities refuses to consider pay raises and benefit improvements for Lakeside employees. At the same time, Leo said, the executives are willing to spend millions on the luxurious Athenaeum.
An executive from Peregrine Health Management, which operates Lakeside, says the two facilities are separate, and funding at The Athenaeum is not connected to the funding of the Ithaca home. But union representatives say the separation is only a technicality.
“They need to make the choice to be fair to those who give care,” Leo said of Peregrine Health Management. “They need to be able to provide quality care within Lakeside.”
Lakeside has been going through bankruptcy proceedings for about six years, Leo said. As part of the process, Peregrine Health Management took the facility into a receivership, and now the company runs the business and personnel operations.
Over the past three years, employees at the nursing home have given up wage increases and insurance benefits because they understood that was the only way for Lakeside to stay open, Leo said.
But because of this, Lakeside employees are among the lowest paid health-care workers in Tompkins County, she said. The facility has a high turnover rate, and there is rarely enough staff to deliver quality care, Leo said.
“It is creating a situation that the health-care professionals feel is unacceptable,” she continued.
The Athenaeum held its grand opening in February. The Skaneateles home, which boasts elegant dining and salon and spa services, is operated by Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles. Peregrine Properties is run by Stephen Bowman, who is also president of Peregrine Health Management.
Bowman spent $2 million renovating the building, and the 14-bedroom facility charges between $5,000 and $7,000 per month, Leo said.
So when Peregrine Health Management representatives informed union officials during recent negotiations that there is still no money for wage increases or facility upgrades at the Lakeside, it was clear the company was not playing fair, Leo said.
“It is very clear that there is money,” said Leo.
During Friday's 90-minute demonstration, union members and Lakeside employees held up signs bearing hand-written messages like “Stop unfair business practices,” and “Unfair to those who care.” A few participants handed out fliers in downtown Skaneateles.
“We stood behind the administration for all these years,” said Johnny Wright, who works as a custodian at Lakeside and participated in the demonstration. “We've given and we've given.”
Wright said the funding situation is not only affecting the workers. This weekend, there will be three aids and two nurses for 54 residents. which is not a proper ratio, he said.
“The residents don't have the proper number of staff members to care for them every day,” Wright said.
But Mark Farchione, vice president of Peregrine Health Management, said Friday that he didn't understand why the group chose to demonstrate in front of The Athenaeum.
Peregrine Health Management and Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles are two separate business entities, Farchione said. The payroll at Lakeside Nursing Home is supported by the revenues generated by the Lakeside Nursing Home, he said.
“If Peregrine Properties has invested in another facility, what is the relevance of that to Lakeside?” Farchione asked.
According to New York State Department of State's Division of Corporations, the Peregrine Health Management and Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles corporations were both processed under the same Syracuse address. That location is the same as the address listed on the Peregrine Health Management Web site - 120 Walton St., Suite 500.
The state Department of State has a total of 10 corporations, all bearing the name Peregrine, processed at that address. The Peregrine Health Management Web site also has links and information for eight facilities, including The Athenaeum and Lakeside Nursing Home.
Leo said Friday that, while the owners of Peregrine Health Management may have set up separate corporations for business purposes, the same executives control the money. Those executives need to make the “right choice” and put some of that money into Lakeside, she said.
“We'll keep fighting,” Leo said. “We'll keep standing up for what we know is right for the patients and the workers.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
According to union representative Baschki Leo, the company that runs both facilities refuses to consider pay raises and benefit improvements for Lakeside employees. At the same time, Leo said, the executives are willing to spend millions on the luxurious Athenaeum.
An executive from Peregrine Health Management, which operates Lakeside, says the two facilities are separate, and funding at The Athenaeum is not connected to the funding of the Ithaca home. But union representatives say the separation is only a technicality.
“They need to make the choice to be fair to those who give care,” Leo said of Peregrine Health Management. “They need to be able to provide quality care within Lakeside.”
Lakeside has been going through bankruptcy proceedings for about six years, Leo said. As part of the process, Peregrine Health Management took the facility into a receivership, and now the company runs the business and personnel operations.
Over the past three years, employees at the nursing home have given up wage increases and insurance benefits because they understood that was the only way for Lakeside to stay open, Leo said.
But because of this, Lakeside employees are among the lowest paid health-care workers in Tompkins County, she said. The facility has a high turnover rate, and there is rarely enough staff to deliver quality care, Leo said.
“It is creating a situation that the health-care professionals feel is unacceptable,” she continued.
The Athenaeum held its grand opening in February. The Skaneateles home, which boasts elegant dining and salon and spa services, is operated by Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles. Peregrine Properties is run by Stephen Bowman, who is also president of Peregrine Health Management.
Bowman spent $2 million renovating the building, and the 14-bedroom facility charges between $5,000 and $7,000 per month, Leo said.
So when Peregrine Health Management representatives informed union officials during recent negotiations that there is still no money for wage increases or facility upgrades at the Lakeside, it was clear the company was not playing fair, Leo said.
“It is very clear that there is money,” said Leo.
During Friday's 90-minute demonstration, union members and Lakeside employees held up signs bearing hand-written messages like “Stop unfair business practices,” and “Unfair to those who care.” A few participants handed out fliers in downtown Skaneateles.
“We stood behind the administration for all these years,” said Johnny Wright, who works as a custodian at Lakeside and participated in the demonstration. “We've given and we've given.”
Wright said the funding situation is not only affecting the workers. This weekend, there will be three aids and two nurses for 54 residents. which is not a proper ratio, he said.
“The residents don't have the proper number of staff members to care for them every day,” Wright said.
But Mark Farchione, vice president of Peregrine Health Management, said Friday that he didn't understand why the group chose to demonstrate in front of The Athenaeum.
Peregrine Health Management and Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles are two separate business entities, Farchione said. The payroll at Lakeside Nursing Home is supported by the revenues generated by the Lakeside Nursing Home, he said.
“If Peregrine Properties has invested in another facility, what is the relevance of that to Lakeside?” Farchione asked.
According to New York State Department of State's Division of Corporations, the Peregrine Health Management and Peregrine Properties of Skaneateles corporations were both processed under the same Syracuse address. That location is the same as the address listed on the Peregrine Health Management Web site - 120 Walton St., Suite 500.
The state Department of State has a total of 10 corporations, all bearing the name Peregrine, processed at that address. The Peregrine Health Management Web site also has links and information for eight facilities, including The Athenaeum and Lakeside Nursing Home.
Leo said Friday that, while the owners of Peregrine Health Management may have set up separate corporations for business purposes, the same executives control the money. Those executives need to make the “right choice” and put some of that money into Lakeside, she said.
“We'll keep fighting,” Leo said. “We'll keep standing up for what we know is right for the patients and the workers.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are 3 comment(s)
blueyankee443 wrote on Oct 25, 2008 12:07 AM:
other subject,but it appears the site
directs you to where you don't click to
go. "
blueyankee443 wrote on Oct 25, 2008 12:04 AM:
er think of spending money on Human nee
ds,when there is a building to build.Of
course,in this case,the Unions may be r
ight,though,I do not care for Unions.H
owever,in this case there is no differe
nce as this company would do the same e
ven if the Union was not involved.Evide
ntly,the Union needs a different Rep,to
secure what the workers need.Perhaps th
e Union Officials have their pockets la
ced already,and do not need the benefit
s,as they already have their benefits,
by representation,and who could care at
titude. Wow !! "
brew1234 wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:16 PM: