Nursing home workers at one of the last non-profit facilities in Western New York averted a two-day strike on July 30, after reaching an 18-month agreement just hours before they were set to hit the picket line. Caregivers at Weinberg Campus, located in Getzville, NY, near Buffalo, planned to protest a poorly managed facility, unpaid benefits, low wages, and staffing levels.

“I’m happy with the contract, but I know that there is still work to be done,” said Nell Robinson, an 1199 LPN.

The deal ratified on August 2, includes wage increases based on years of service; 10-step wage scale; pension increases; shift differential; and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday. Depending on seniority, members will also receive retroactive pay amounting to 2.25 percent and 2.75 percent of their wage increase going back to November 1, 2023.

The bargaining unit at Weinberg Campus includes Food Service Workers, Maintenance Workers, Cooks, Environmental Service Workers, Housekeeping, Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Personal Care Aides, Clerical Workers, Home Health Aides, and Community Home Health Aides.