AAC in union talks at New Jersey center

It’s unusual for an addiction treatment center to have a union, but employees of Sunrise House in New Jersey voted to unionize in 2016. According to the New Jersey Herald, last Tuesday, on the eve of scheduled negotiations between the employees and corporate leaders, the facility was closed and patients were transferred elsewhere.

The union alleges that the lockout is illegal. Meanwhile, bargaining continued between the union and administrators on May 26, but an agreement was not reached. Both parties will return to discussions tomorrow, according to a union press release.

Michael Cartwright, CEO of American Addiction Centers (AAC), which owns the center, told Behavioral Healthcare Executive last year that New Jersey is a heavily unionized state and that he was excited for the Sunrise House employees.

Today, the union’s homepage leads with a link encouraging visitors to send a message of union support to Cartwright.

Sunrise House was added to the AAC portfolio in 2015 for $6.6 million. In its Q1 earnings report, the company reported that residential treatment facility revenue increased 11% to $49.5 million; outpatient and sober living facility revenue increased 200% to $5.7 million; and non-client related revenue was $1.8 million.

Also on deck for AAC is a 150-bed residential treatment center in Ringwood, N.J., which is expected to open mid-year 2018.