This is an interesting union ploy to derail a pending decertification vote. SEIU is requesting MDHHS audit Lenawee Medical Care Facility under Michigan PA 121 of 2024 according to Bulletin MMP 24-28:
Union at Lenawee Medical Care Facility calls for audit of nursing home's finances
By David Panian - November 22, 2024ADRIAN — The union representing workers at Lenawee Medical Care Facility has alleged that state funds meant to increase employee pay were misappropriated. The nursing home's administration denies withholding state monies from its employees.
Service Employees International Union Healthcare Michigan is calling on the state of Michigan to audit the nursing home's finances to verify whether the direct care wage pass-through funds were spent appropriately between late 2020 and 2023.
"SEIU Healthcare Michigan is calling for a full audit of LMCF’s financial records to ensure accountability and compliance with state funding guidelines, and for any and all funds withheld or potentially misappropriated from the workers to be returned to them," the union said in a news release.
The union represents about 100 employees at the nursing home on Sand Creek Highway in Adrian, including certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, laundry aides, maintenance, and dietary workers, SEIU spokesperson Kate Norton said in an email.
These allegations come while the Lenawee Medical employees who are SEIU members are in the process of deciding whether to decertify the union, Lenawee Medical administrator Erin Tuckey said in an email.
"These allegations are totally unfounded and nothing more than a frivolous and unfounded campaign tactic," Tuckey said. "In particular, employees at the facility are currently in the process of an election to vote SEIU out as their representative and we believe this letter is designed to do nothing more than to retaliate against the facility for those employees actions and confuse issues related to that election. The Lenawee Medical Care Facility denies withholding any state monies from our employees, much less the misappropriation of any funds. Frankly, we are more than happy to cooperate in any review of our records and are confident doing so will only prove the slanderous nature of the unions unfounded allegations."
According to the SEIU, the union's key concerns include wage discrepancies, lack of transparency and potential misuse of funds. Workers at Lenawee Medical have reported minimal or no wage increases during the time in question, the release said, with many workers' base pay below their contracted minimums, and the appearance of funds utilized in a manner potentially inconsistent with the program's intent. The union says the funds may have been diverted to non-wage expenses.
The union claims Lenawee Medical has not provided adequate documentation detailing fund usage, nor has the facility provided the union with "adequate or reasonable" access to the facility to administer and oversee that the workers' contract was executed appropriately.
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