MSNBC's Keith Olbermann gave the Motion Picture Television Fund's president and chief executive David Tillman the title of the "World's Worse" person last night, for closing the retirement home for film-industry employees for no good reason.
Three hundred SEIU UHW members provide care at the acute care hospital and nursing home facilities under threat of closure, which would cause the eviction of over 120 of its oldest, weakest, most needy and disabled residents by the end of the year. So much for the Motion Picture and Television Fund's promise of "unwavering commitment" to the entertainment industry.
MPTF says this is necessary because the long term care facilities in question have run $10 million operating deficits for the past four years. However, public records show a profit margin of approximately 12% for 2006-7 with a 9.5% increase in net assets in 2007 alone. "Everybody would be farmed out to various nursing homes because the Fund says it's losing $10 million dollars a year and is rapidly running out of money," commented show host Keith Olbermann. "Except that it's latest financial statements from last November indicated no losses... the fund wants to instead open a condo-like development," he continued.
As usual, Olbermann gives a great summary of the issue and what is at stake. Watch here:
SEIU members have protested the possible closures, holding a vigil last Wednesday with more than 150 UHW members, resident family members, actors and clergy from the Motion Picture and Television Fund long term care facility in attendance.
"The fight to keep this residence open and preserve these jobs is a fight for morality over greed and for compassion over cruelty," Melanie Wilson told the crowd, underscoring a moving report on ongoing negotiations by worker Myra Torres. Melanie is the daughter of Charmin's "Mr. Whipple" ad fame, who called the facility home for years.
