The largest healthcare union in the United States has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Toms River, NJ-based Complete Care Management for alleged violations of federal labor law. 

Complete Care Management became the largest operator of nursing homes in New Jersey with the purchase of several facilities from Genesis Healthcare back in April.

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East claimed in a press release that Complete Care “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.” 

The union further alleged that the company has not bargained in good faith and that it unlawfully refused to disclose information about how it would spend supplemental Medicaid funding targeted for certified nursing assistant pay that must be spent by the end of the month or forfeited.

“The allocation of supplemental Medicaid funding to CNAs is a time-sensitive matter that the union has every right to negotiate on behalf of our members. This money was granted by the state with the explicit purpose of improving caregiver pay — management cannot use it at its own discretion because it is a mandatory subject of bargaining,” Clauvice St. Hilaire, vice president at 1199SEIU, told McKnight’s.

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.)

A spokeswoman for the management company denied the charges. “Complete Care has been negotiating in good faith with the SEIU since the beginning. We offer a comprehensive health plan and competitive benefits, and our facilities are known as great places to work,” She told McKnight’s. “Because these facilities are critical to our patients and their families, we are committed to their long-term viability,” she added.

Further, the spokeswoman said, “It is unfortunate that the union is burdening the National Labor Relations Board simply to further their aims at the bargaining table.”