Union workers at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday decided to not have a separate vote from other Butler County bargaining units on a contract offer.

Kevin Hefty, vice president of long-term care for the Service Employees International Union, said in an interview this morning Sunnyview workers voted unanimously to not be detached from the other bargaining units.

About 200 Sunnyview workers and 300 employees at the courthouse and government center have yet to sign new pacts with the county.

Their last contracts expired Nov. 30.

"The employees at Sunnyview voted unanimously to continue the longstanding practice of bargaining jointly with the courthouse and other county employees," Hefty said.

He said the units not involved in binding arbitration, including Sunnyview, will wait until contracts are settled with the court-related workers, who are not allowed to strike. Those workers are in the midst of arbitration. The next session is set for May 7.

"For the rest of them, it will set a precedent," Hefty said about the arbitration ruling affecting what the other bargaining units want.

County Commissioner Jim Lokhaiser at Thursday's Sunnyview board meeting bashed union leaders for misrepresenting what is discussed during contract talks.

"Union leaders are not disseminating information correctly," he said.

Stressing he's a union man, Lokhaiser questioned why the employees are reluctant to sign a new agreement considering the current economic climate with layoffs occurring throughout the country.

Lokhaiser said Sunnyview union leaders shouldn't wait for the results of arbitration between the county and court-related employees, who are not permitted to strike.

"I don't understand what those people want," he said. "They fear and this is how stupid they are they'll get more down here (the courthouse) than they are at Sunnyview."

Sue Murray, Sunnyview administrator, said such a waiting game is a typical practice of unions.

"That's the union mentality," she said.

Lokhaiser stressed he supports unions, but Sunnyview's needs to be reasonable.

"I know I'm flapping my mouth, but I'm frustrated," he said.

Hefty criticized Lokhaiser for his comments about the union.

"It reflects poorly on the commissioners that they can't behave responsibly," Hefty said.

An outstanding contract issue for Sunnyview workers is scheduling.

While waiting for a new agreement to be reached, Sunnyview administration is having problems with employees not turning in their 2009 vacation schedules.

Sunnyview and county officials cited the problem is mainly with certified nursing assistants.

Lokhaiser complained about the employees' attitude about scheduling in general, saying they have it backward.

"It's a sad situation when they tell us when they want to work," he said.

Hefty described scheduling as a complicated issue that could be explained to Lokhaiser if he wished.

Both Dr. William DiCuccio, Sunnyview executive and medical director, and fiscal director Bill Kepple cautioned the commissioners about emphasizing the possible sale of the nursing home.

The commissioners earlier this year voted to seek proposals from companies to operate or buy Sunnyview, saying the county might have to get out of the nursing home business because of the facility's operating deficit.

Hefty said the commissioners made that move to compel union workers to sign a new contract.

"The commissioners have repeatedly used threats of selling the nursing home to pressure the employees to split off and vote separately, and we refuse to do so," he said.

Lokhaiser defended the decision, saying the county has no choice but to consider the option.

"What recourse do we, the county commissioners, have," he said.

DiCuccio stressed Sunnyview is closer to climbing out of the red.

According to Sunnyview financial records for February, the nursing home had a net loss of nearly $42,000.

"This is how close we are to breaking even," DiCuccio said.

The county budgeted Sunnyview to lose about $1 million for 2009.