1199SEIU Files Charges Against Complete Care Management for Labor Law Violations at Eight NJ Nursing Homes

Charges involve Complete Care Management’s failure to bargain over how it is spending supplemental Medicaid money earmarked by the State for caregivers and unlawful retaliation against workers for union activity.

*Worker interviews available on request.*

New Jersey— On Thursday, July 15, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Complete Care Management for violations of federal labor law.

In April, private-equity backed Complete Care Management became the largest operator of nursing homes in New Jersey after purchasing a number of facilities from Genesis Healthcare.  Immediately upon taking over operations at homes represented by 1199SEIU, the company unilaterally gutted workers’ benefits—including quadrupling the cost of family health insurance to over $800 a month, eliminating their pension and educational benefits, and cutting sick time, holidays, and vacation time.

Workers say these changes have caused an exodus of employees and degrading staffing levels across departments this summer, putting standards of quality care in jeopardy.

Progress at the bargaining table across eight nursing homes has been stalled.  Management has unlawfully refused to provide information to the Union necessary to formulate bargaining proposals, including how it intends to distribute its share of supplemental Medicaid funding to certified nursing assistants (CNAs) which must be given to workers by month’s end or else forfeited to the State.

At Marcella Center in Burlington Township, the company is accused of disparaging, retaliating, and discriminating against a union activist who works as a certified nursing assistant.

“Complete Care Management’s egregious cuts to workers’ benefits and their continued failure to bargain in good faith with the Union is causing tremendous hardship among caregivers, many of whom are struggling with skyrocketing medical costs,” said Clauvice St. Hilaire, Vice President at 1199SEIU.  “It is obvious that nursing home workers who braved this pandemic and sacrificed so much for their residents should never be treated in this manner.  We intend to do everything it takes to win justice and a fair contract for these workers and defend their right to bargain collectively.”

The Unfair Labor Practice charges involve the following facilities:

• Complete Care at Green Knoll (Bridewater Twp.)
• Complete Care at Inglemoor (Englewood)
• Complete Care at Linwood (Linwood)
• Complete Care at Marcella (Burlington Twp.)
• Complete Care at Park Place (Monmouth Junction)
• Complete Care at Voorhees (Voorhees Twp.)
• Complete Care at Westfield (Westfield)
• Complete Care at Willow Creek (Franklin Twp.)

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 450,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C.   Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.