8 hours ago
Lake County nursing home won't sign union contract as state and local officials raise staffing concerns
Thrive of Lake County and Ignite Medical Resorts is facing criticism from local and state officials over its refusal to sign a previously negotiated union contract due to the included staffing requirements.
Over 20 local officials, including two state senators, five state representatives and numerous members of the Lake County Board signed a letter urging the company to honor the contract and raised concerns over its staffing ratios.
The nursing home was formerly known as Winchester House and located along Milwaukee Avenue when it was owned by Lake County. In 2015, it was sold to Thrive, and in 2020 was moved to its current location in Mundelein. In 2022, Thrive partnered with Ignite to manage the three Thrive locations in Illinois.
The letter calls for the company to honor the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with AFSCME Local 2452 last year. As a formerly county-run nursing home, the company has a 'special responsibility to make resident care a top priority,' it said.
Officials threw their weight behind the employees, arguing they were advocating for both themselves and the facility's residents. One of the union's main priorities is maintaining the contract's safe-staffing ratios, the letter said, and Thrive management had previously agreed to the contract, with union employees voting 'overwhelmingly to ratify it.'
But Ignite's upper management did 'an about-face,' refusing to sign the contract, 'supposedly because of the inclusion of the safe-staffing provisions,' the letter said.
This refusal is against the law according to the letter, and was 'especially concerning' given the company's 'demonstrated track record' of 'lower staffing, worse care and higher patient-mortality rates among nursing homes with private equity and real estate investment trust investors, like Thrive and Ignite.'
The officials said they 'strongly object to this flagrant violation of the integrity of the collective bargaining process. We cannot stand idly by when it seems all too possible that corners are being cut to increase corporate profits while diminishing quality of care.'
Robert Simandl, representing Thrive, said the company had 'met its legal obligations' to the union, and described the situation as an 'impasse in negotiations.'
'When there is not a meeting of the minds on all of the terms for a contract, it can become a reality,' Simandl said.
Ignite was 'always' looking out for 'what is best for our residents — that is our charge,' Simandl said. Illinois staffing rules give long-term care provider employers 'flexibility to meet the needs of the residents,' he said.
'Adjusting staffing based on acuity of the resident is an absolute requirement for making sure the resident receives the best care for their situation,' Simandl said. 'Static staffing has been rejected under the State guidelines as our legislators recognize the need for facilities to be nimble.'
According to Thrive is rated below average for health inspections, quality measures and staffing, and it has faced two federal fines in the last three years. Its total number of nurse staff hours per resident per day, 2 hours and 40 minutes, is more than an hour below the national average according to the website.
According to Simandl, Thrive has increased its staffing in the last year, and they 'closely monitor the needs of our residents and will continue to meet the staffing requirements of law.'
'We have good people who take their responsibilities very seriously. This includes not only the represented staff but also the administrative people at the facility,' he said. 'We will continue to fulfill our legal obligations to our employees, the State, and our residents,' Simandl said.
Maribel Novelo is a certified nurse assistant at Thrive of Lake County and has worked in the industry since she was 18. She said she loves her job and the connection she builds with the people she cares for.
'They become your family,' Novelo said. 'They become more like your grandma. You see your mom in them.'
She described the powerful feeling of seeing so many local officials standing by the workers.
'I felt so good, I'm glad someone is on our side,' Novelo said. 'I really admire them now. I don't feel scared, I don't feel lonely, because I see that they're going to be there working with me.'
