Sunrise House Workers Vote Yes to Join HPAE

By a nearly 5 to 1 vote, addiction treatment workers at Sunrise House, part of the national for-profit chain, American Addiction Centers, voted to join HPAE, NJ’s largest union of healthcare professionals.  The election was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for enforcing workers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

“This vote to join HPAE will give workers on the front line of drug and alcohol addiction a voice they need to make positive changes for themselves and their patients’ right to bargain with their employer to provide the safest care,” said Ann Twomey, President of HPAE.

According to HPAE, workers filed on June 9th for the election with the NLRB after raising concerns for the health and safety of workers and patients at the facility.  In March of this year, the New Jersey Department of Human Services cited AAC for thirty deficiencies, including seven at Sunrise House. The deficiencies mirrored many of the staff concerns, including a failure to maintain staffing levels of licensed or certified counseling staff, lack of required staff training and lack of direct clinical supervision.

“Workers deserve this opportunity to improve the conditions they work under as they increase the possibility for a better life for their clients,” added Twomey.

Sunrise House was founded in 1983 as a non-profit substance abuse treatment center. AAC purchased the 110 bed substance abuse treatment center in 2015 for a total purchase price of $6.6 million.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:             Bridget Devane (732) 996-5493, bdevane@hpae.org