Employees of the Wayne County Nursing Home in Lyons are upset after pleading to the County's Board of Supervisors to save their jobs. Last night the board decided to outsource their jobs to a private company.
Housekeeping, maintenance, and food services will be contracted by the private company, Sodexo Senior Living, starting July 1st.
The decision means 74 employees will have to reapply for their jobs with no guarantee they will be re-hired. Union officials say jobs will also pay $3 an hour less than the average $14 an hour employees currently make. They will also lose county benefits and will not likely be offered another benefits package.
According to County Administrator Jim Marquette, the decision will save taxpayers money. Right now, the county pays $1.5 million to help operate the home, which they say isn't bringing in enough revenue. Marquette says the move will save $888,000.
The county has also passed a resolution recently authorizing a proposal for the nursing home to be marketed for sale.
