GRAND RAPIDS — Don Slocum sought relief from the heat in the shade of tall trees outside the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans as he pondered losing people he considers his family.

The Korean War veteran and three-year resident of the state-owned home is unsettled by a plan to privatize the jobs of 171 resident care aides at the 758-bed retirement and nursing facility.

“For the life of me, I can’t see them getting rid of the caretakers they’ve got,” Slocum said. “They know each and every person that’s up there.”

Those aides are in line to be the next casualties of Michigan’s budget-cutting ax.

Privatization — contracting with a private company for aides to replace state employees — would save the state $4.2 million, according to budget documents. In fact, privatization is the largest single budget reduction for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in the new fiscal year.

The department operates the sprawling facility near the Grand River at 3000 Monroe Ave. NE. Constructed in 1885 and opened the following year, it provides a home and health care for aging veterans with at least three months of military service and a range of health issues. Its funding comes from state and federal sources, as well as monthly payments from residents.

The only other state-operated veteran’s home is the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, which is smaller in size and operating budget.

The aides in Grand Rapids, represented by AFSCME Local 261, earn $15 to $20 an hour based on seniority to help feed, clothe and otherwise help residents. They also receive overtime as well as state pensions and health insurance, according to workers.

The home pays $15 an hour for contract aide workers, although those workers actually receive less because the employment company takes part of that amount, union workers said. They also don’t receive the state-paid benefits.

Ronnie Skorupski, Local 261 vice president and a caregiver, acknowledges the financial predicament lawmakers had in balancing the budget with declining revenues, but said entrusting veterans’ care to the cheapest bidder misses the point.

He also disputes whether the $4.2 million savings will be realized when training, turnover and other costs are factored in.

“We take care of our veterans,” Skorupski said. “They know us. We take care of them. We’re family to them and that’s what it’s all about.”

The Legislature approved the budget last month, but Gov. Rick Snyder has yet to sign it as he waits for the Michigan Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of his plan to tax retiree pensions. He has asked for the opinion before the state’s new fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

In any case, it is unlikely the privatization plan will be altered, many involved agree. The change would be effective on Oct. 1.

Snyder proposed privatization in February when he presented his new budget. Lawmakers said the idea had been pinpointed by Military and Veterans Affairs Department officials. Officials from the agency were not available to comment on the plan this week.

Proponents and opponents of privatization have made the quality of care a centerpiece of their arguments.

State Rep. Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford, and state Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, were pivotal in getting the plans through the Legislature.

MacGregor chairs the House military and veterans affairs appropriations subcommittee, and Colbeck chairs the state police and military affairs appropriations subcommittee in the Senate.

Not only does the plan save the state money, they argue, but it ensures adequate steps are taken to avoid dips in quality of care they said many have voiced concern about.

"These are people who have served and risked their lives for our country,” MacGregor said. “When the ability to pay is not there, the choice of closing the home is not a good choice, so the next route was to privatize.”

Melissa Sleight of Lake Odessa, a 16-year caregiver and Local 261 member, said the facility already employs as many as 100 contract caregivers.

The Grand Rapids company, J2S Group Healthforce provides the contract workers to the home. It did not return Press calls for comment.

Sleight argues state-paid workers like herself are better compensated and therefore more likely to view their job as a career and to connect with the veterans. “It’s these people, these veterans who have fought for the right and have earned the quality care they get,” Sleight said.

Colbeck said lawmakers this year added assurances that contract workers meet certain quality standards. They are requiring contract agencies to ensure workers:

Have eight hours of training based on information provided by the veterans home.

Job shadow caregivers for at least one, eight-hour shift.

Have at least one year of experience in long-term care.

Colbeck said the union is not barred from submitting its own bid to the state to provide workers.

“If they can provide the best value for the money on this, we encourage them to continue on as well,” he said.

Until Snyder signs the budget, though, it’s business as usual at the home, Acting Director Sara Dunne said.

“It will be my mission to continue to provide quality of care to our veterans no matter what comes down the road,” Dunne said.