California Nursing Homes: Unionized vs. Non-Unionized Ratings
A recent report indicates that nursing homes in California staffed by unionized employees have lower average federal quality ratings compared to those without unions. This finding comes from the Center for Union Facts (CUF), a group known for its critical stance on organized labor.
According to CUF, the presence of a union in a CMS-certified nursing home tends to decrease its rating by nearly 10 percentage points. These ratings, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), are based on various factors such as health inspections, staff availability, and overall care quality.
The analysis showed that California’s unionized nursing facilities averaged a rating of 3.02, while non-union facilities scored an average of 3.17. The SEIU union-affiliated facilities received ratings of 2.96, and those represented by SEIU Local 2015 scored even lower at 2.86. Notably, after adjusting for county median household income, unionized facilities were still about 0.3 points lower in their ratings.
CUF suggests that this gap in ratings raises questions about the influence of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in California’s long-term care sector. The report references past allegations concerning the union’s culture and internal disputes as potential reasons for the lower ratings.
While the report does not establish a direct causation between union representation and diminished ratings, it does highlight a worrying trend. Another report from CUF previously noted that SEIU-affiliated hospitals had ratings almost one star lower than non-union hospitals.
CUF’s examination included union materials, online publications, and National Labor Relations Board records dating back to around 2006 to identify union-affiliated homes. Facilities without evidence of unionization were classified as non-union in the study.
Additionally, the report draws attention to the historical treatment of union members, citing an incident involving a former worker, Chaquan May, who claims she and others were pressured to sign membership forms under coercive circumstances. Such testimonies paint a complex picture of union dynamics.
CUF also outlines that the possibility of strikes led by unions could further compromise the care provided to nursing home residents, raising additional concerns.
Charice Bozzello, a Public Affairs Director at CUF, emphasized that poor policy and leadership could have significant repercussions for vulnerable individuals in these care facilities. As investigations into California’s long-term care system ramp up under federal oversight, questions regarding trust in SEIU-managed homes become more pressing.
The report arrives against the backdrop of CMS withholding over $1 billion in Medicaid funding, a move criticized by California officials but deemed necessary by federal authorities to combat fraud.
Historically, SEIU has been a strong supporter of the Democratic Party, contributing significantly during elections. Previous findings have indicated consistent issues with ratings among SEIU-affiliated hospitals in California.
