pntbutterandjelly says

I have to snicker when I read "a non-profit organization". There certainly must be "profit" being made by someone or it would have to be funded for the shortfall or...go out of business.. Besides...doctors, nurses and aides are all making an income (profit) as well as all other services which keep it running.

"Non-profit", to me, only conjures up images of people taking advantage of the system. And then there is the question of, "why is "volunteer" labor needed"? That's like "volunteers" working at a "for-profit" hospital that is already benefiting (and greatly at that) monetarily. "The rich keep getting richer." (And they'll do it at anyone else's expense.) 

When is the last time anyone worked for you (free of charge) as a "volunteer"???

Those volunteers took away a paying job for someone who could have really used the income whether they were union workers or not

(Bring in the attorneys. I'm sure they could really use the "profit".) (And then...where and how will they get paid?)

"Non-profit" my a$$.

Julie R. says

@Worksthere: I agree with what you say about Barb Johnson's office acting like when she's on medical leave the office can't run without her.  I think the real truth there is ---- because Johnson is hardly ever there the courts and attorneys are having a real field day. In fact, I know they are. Considering that Johnson isn't the only one in that office, that certainly IS a real eye-brow raiser.   

YAWWNN says

I agree with you Factitious.  It sounds kind of silly.  Union workers suing the county because their UNION employees decided to donate their own time for something that benefits the elderly and infirm that are in their care.  Apparently the union would have rather the residents of ECCF continue to live in squaller, than to forego the overpriced cost of union labor.  Keep in mind that the care facility does not make a profit so without donated time and materials the facility would likely not have been able to make the aesthetic changes that they did without using money from the county general fund.

Carpet Man says

     Congrats to the County Commissioners for a job well done.  FYI    the flooring work was put out to bid I know of at least 3 sandusky based flooring stores that bid out the JOB.   The second phase was paid by donations with Stein donationg the lions share of total.  The flooring bid was under 25 k The job went smooth with non union local workers!!!!!!!!!!   Why would we want a out of county union shop to come into our community and charge us more $$$....  

Factitious says

This is a PR blunder. We still need unions, because without them all wage earners would be worse off, but why do they keep inventing new way to tick everybody off and give unions a bad name? What if that effort was instead expended on trying to help oganize workers who are really bad off?

Worksthere says

 First of all 4Libertee needs to read and understand why the county does need a nursing home. Erie County Care can not turn people away like private ones can, unless they are  a danger to themselves or others.  Next reread articles written over the years, it is NOT run with tax payer money, never has been. Have they ever borrowed money when times are tough? Of course just like any self funded business has, and probably you have also to buy a car or a house. Nothing un American about that.

Now for BytheBy comments, how silly are those, you get quality from these union workers, cheaper is not always better. The job gets done right the first time by union workers, then you have saved money with union work every time. Of course you can op for non union workers and cost over runs and delays, and hopeing everyone shows up for work on time.

Bluto is correct in what he/she is saying, there is nothing wrong with asking questions, all they are is checks and balances. As stated if the questions would have been answered earlier then you wouldn't be at this point and blaming Barbra Johnson for not relaying the information??????  Does this mean that her office is completely closed down because she was off on a medical leave. Thats an eye brow raiser isn't it? Of course not, and she isn't the only person working in that office.

Fireside says

CONGRATS to the County commissioners! Job well done on this project. With 3 Democrat commissioners, I am sure they did not break any union rules.

Bluto says

BytheBy    That's what I'm saying , if they haven't been forth coming with the books like was asked in the first place how exactly do we know what  their definition of donate is ? unpaid work without benifits , time compted ,work performed during regular work hours , what ? tweeking the numbers to get around having to put the job out to bid would be illegal . Are we going to take them at their word ? They should have provided the details when they were asked for , not wait till legal action was necessary . The commissioners should know what's going on within the county . That's their job, isn't it ? Another point , if county employees( who are union members) donate their time on a county project during regular working hours how can that not be violating union regulations ? Is there a record of proper certification on any work that requires so ? There are a lot of unknowns here and that is why the law suit was the correct thing to do in light of all the run around going on with the county .

BytheBy says

@Bluto

Did you really just state that the "union is trying to keep things on the straight and narrow"?

Oh Lord...that will keep me laughing all day!

What part of "County employees also donated hundreds of labor hours and thousands of dollars to finish the years-long projects," do you not understand?

I for one applaud the county's efforts to save us money! Kudos to them!

4Libertee says

Why does the county own a nursing home?  Sell it to the highest bidder, and quit wasting taxpayer money.

The Answer Person says

PAPPAS...what else is new?

Bluto says

If the work would have gone out to bid doesn't necessarily mean that a union contractor would have got the work . It has always been policy that lowest bidder gets the job  . If they went around the laws that are on the books then they were wrong . Besides if they haven't  fully disclosed the books on the work and exactly where the money went then how do we know that no wrongs were done . The whole situation was just ripe for corrupt dealings and double dipping and the union is trying to keep things on the straight and narrow . This is what unions due . They are not just protecting union jobs but all workers , their rights , their safety and upholding the law . Many a corrupt dealings have been disguised as good intentions in order to pull the wool over our eyes . If there was nothing done wrong then why drag their feet about the whole thing , that only makes it look fishy .

BytheBy says

UNIONS-all about the money!

The county tried to save us money and they are suing because they didn't use their over-priced crap workers!

TYPICAL!