Union files charges over Beeghly Oaks firings

SEIU says its members were not rehired because of their union activities.

BOARDMAN — Service Employees International Union District 1199 has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Vrable Healthcare of Columbus over the firing of some 32 Beeghly Oaks employees.

Vrable Healthcare, which finalized the purchase of the nursing care facility from Forum Health last Friday, on Saturday told the affected employees that they no longer had jobs.

The charges filed by SEIU with the NLRB say Vrable Healthcare did not rehire the employees because of their union activities; and also that the owner changed health insurance, which raised rates significantly, said Monica Moran, long-term care coordinator with SEIU in the Youngstown area.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Vrable said it is still in the process of accepting employment applications and interviewing applicants. “VHC has currently offered 98 jobs to people formerly employed” by Forum. “At this point, Vrable Healthcare continues to work through staffing and all the other requirements for transitioning the facility, the statement said.
There are about 52 SEIU-represented employees at Beeghly Oaks who were not fired, and eight more on medical leave, whose job status is unknown, Moran said.

Forum Health, in a statement Sunday, said it also is upset with Vrable Healthcare, calling Vrable’s decision to fire Beeghly Oaks workers “contrary to the spirit and intent” of the agreement Forum Health reached with Vrable, which was that “substantially all” of the employees there would be retained.

Moran said SEIU is in contact with the Ohio attorney general about Vrable’s actions.

The attorney general has authority over the sale of nonprofit businesses, and is evaluating the proposed sale of Beeghly Medical Park, excluding Beeghly Oaks, to Akron Children’s Hospital.

“We’re exploring all legal possibilities,” Moran said.

Moran said Vrable Healthcare has not returned any of the union’s phone calls seeking an explanation.

Allan K. Vrable, a Youngstown area native, is owner, president and chief executive officer of Vrable Healthcare Companies.

The company also owns Pembrook Place, the former Carrington South Health Care Center, on Midlothian Boulevard, which has about 70 SEIU-represented employees.

Vrable owns and operates six long-term care facilities and a senior retirement center in Ohio, and currently employs approximately 1,200 people, according to the statement released Monday.