Picket highlights program reductions at Sandusky Veterans’ Home

For immediate release:  June 26, 2007

SANDUSKY, OH – At an informational picket today outside of Ohio’s largest Veteran’s Home, Ohio Veterans’ Home employees said long-term financial problems have taken a toll on veterans’ care and programming at the center.

According to members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association who work there, a $5 million shortfall last year is having a direct impact on veterans’ daily lives by reducing dietary programs, cutting nursing and therapy services and eliminating recreational programming.

Although no beds have closed due to the shortfall, 100 staff positions remain unfilled and mandatory overtime is at an all time high, say union employees there.

“We believe Ohio’s veterans deserve better than this,” said Mark Weikle, the union’s president at the center. “We used to be one of the premier nursing facilities in the state. Not so anymore.”

Weikle said that last year, the home was cited for numerous health and safety violations during its annual review by the Department of Health, which is usually unheard of for the facility.

Weikle singled out the dietary program as a specific example of how service to veterans is being cut. “The residents used to have choices about what food they would eat. For instance, they would get a choice of breakfast cereal. That’s been eliminated,” he said. A fruit and salad bar was also eliminated earlier this year, according to Weikle.

Although, the current administration has proposed an increase in the budget for OVH, downward revenue projections for the state of Ohio could continue to mean dwindling services for Ohio’s veterans, the union warns.

“Although we’re heartened to learn of a budget increase for OVH this biennium, long-term neglect coupled with a potential decrease in revenues in the future will continue to make the facility vulnerable.”

Approximately 500 OCSEA members take care of the daily needs of over 600 veterans at the Sandusky facility.

For more information: Sally Meckling, 614-865-2602 or 614-404-3881.

The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association represents approximately 36,000 public employees, including approximately 600 nurses aids, Licensed Practical Nurses, maintenance staff and others who work at the Veterans’ Homes in Sandusky and Georgetown.

See Related

News Article and Video Coverage -
OVH Info Picket: Union members, supporters say vets are getting the short end of the bargain (June 27, 2009 - Sandusky Register)

News Advisory: Sandusky picket to highlight program reductions at Ohio Veterans’ Home

Ohio's veterans are at risk: Sandusky picket to highlight program reductions at Ohio Veterans' Home (June 25, 2007)

Download and Share Picket Flyer (PDF)

Website of Ohio Veterans Home

Website of OCSEA Veterans Advisory Committee