(WWJ) Hundreds of Beaumont service workers in Wayne County find themselves without a job amid the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Beaumont announced the layoffs affect more than 400 workers total at the Wayne, Trenton and Taylor hospitals. More than 300 of them work for the Wayne facility. The union employees include dietary helpers, nurses' aides and patient attendants.
Andrea Acevedo, President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan, represents the employees.
"We had a meeting set up for Tuesday to get answers to these very anxiety driven questions asked by the workers," Acevedo told WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites, "Beaumont has refused to come to the table and answer any of these questions for the workers and members we represent."
Acevedo told WWJ it is unclear if any of the employees will be relocated.
Local political leaders have criticized the layoffs; calling on the health system to reconsider and to open up the lines of communication. The leaders include State Representatives Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township), Alex Garza (D-Taylor), and Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn).
WWJ reached out to Beaumont on the issue, but have not heard back.
Beaumont Health System is currently treating 5,737 patients with confirmed COVID-19. 1,934 patients have been discharged. 141 patients have been taken off ventilators. In a post on Facebook; Beaumont said "Here Comes the Sun" plays through the hospital hallways each time someone comes off a ventilator.
