On the sidewalks. in front of the Cambria County Courthouse, representatives of the Laurel Crest Rehabilitation & Special Care Center staff protested the sale of the county home to Grane Healthcare on the morning of Sept. 25, 2009. Clad in bright orange The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) union T-shirts, and carrying signs denouncing the decision of the commissioners, the members of the Professional and Public Service Employees of Cambria County’ Local 1305 union made for an impressive site, and with the start of a potential strike looming, the site was not unexpected. However, the good news announced during the rally outside of the courthouse did come as a surprise to many.
Gathered by Philip Ameris and legal counsel Domenic Bellisario prior to the arrival of the press, the union members were informed that they would not be forced to go on strike as a means of protesting the sale to Grane Healthcare. Ameris spread word of the new developments, these being potential negotiations with Grane on the part of the union, and he led the brightly-clad union representatives in a cheer of elation as reporters arrived to cover the morning commissioner’s meeting.
Ameris explained that the proposed strike would not be postponed until the union representative would have a chance to sit down with Grane Healthcare and discuss the possibility of a contract. Though this was not a firm announcement that Grane would ever approve a contract with the union, nor was any date for negotiations announced, the situation , was considered a win for the 186 union members at Laurel Crest, to say nothing of the 222 county taxpayers that call Laurel Crest home. Channeling excitement over the good news into anger, the union’s, legal counsel, Domenic Bellisario, denounced the actions of the county commissioners with regards to Laurel Crest.
“The workers and residents of Laurel Crest were not protected by the commissioners,” said Bellisario. “There was no guarantee that these people would be provided for, and it is just one more example of the mismanagement of Laurel Crest.”
Bellisario went on to point out the county home’s previous fiscal successes under old management, which Bellisario stated was replaced with the commissioner’s “cronies,” who then drove the business into the ground without a care for the people of Laurel Crest.
Bellisario briefly discussed what he felt were earlier attempts to drive out the union, but noted that the solidarity among staff and patients was what resulted in the good news offered today.
For their part, the commissioners were thankful that the Laurel Crest staff would not be heading to the picket lines. President Commissioner PJ Steven’s noted that contingencies for the strike had already been put in place, but he was thankful that the situation did not come to that. Commissioners Milan Gjurich and William Harris agreed, citing the continuity of care for Laurel Crest residents and their concerns for the staff of Laurel Crest, would have been forced to go without pay or benefits for the duration of the strike.
“This decision is a win-win for the residents and the employees.” Said Gjurich. |
