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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Healthcare workers at clinics in Buffalo, Dunkirk, and Albany unanimously vote in favor of first 3-year labor contract one-month after shooting at westside clinic

Buffalo, NY – Last month, union workers at Promesa’s Alba de Vida clinic participated in Labor Management Meetings to address safety planning at the lower west side clinic. That safety planning helped make life-saving changes in their workplace prior to a shooting at the clinic in Buffalo.

Clinic staff at Alba de Vida in Buffalo and Safepoint Lighthouse in Dunkirk who were empowered to make changes in their workplace have now ratified their first 3-year contract with Promesa, Inc. an affiliate of Acacia Network. Clinic staff are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

“I’m happy to have a union that will give the member’s a voice so we can get back to serving our clients,” said Erin Rosie, Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).

“I used to avoid advocating for myself or my team in fear of retaliation,” said Christina Otero, Entitlement Coordinator. “Now that I am a member of a union, I feel confident to advocate for what is fair at work. This contract gives me foresight into the future – and knowing that this employer is willing to hear us is a big start,” said Otero.

Under terms of the agreement, Upstate clinic staff in Buffalo, Dunkirk, and Albany sites are covered by an existing agreement in place at Promesa clinics downstate. The newly ratified contract includes a total guaranteed general wage increase of 12% over the life of the agreement and increased minimum hire rates. Under the existing downstate contract, Upstate clinic staff now have no-cost health insurance and employer contributions towards retirement, grievance and arbitration procedures, and access to 1199SEIU Childcare Fund, 1199SEIU Training and Upgrade Fund, 1199SEIU Job Security fund and more.

In addition to these new contract benefits, clinic staff will also receive a one-time lump sum bonus of $750.

About three-dozen clinic staff at Promesa Inc, a subsidiary of Acacia Network facilities at Alba de Vida in Buffalo, Safepoint Lighthouse Treatment Center in Dunkirk and Camino Nuevo in Albany work as Admission Intake Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Medical Assistants, Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), Maintenance and Housekeeping Workers, Third Party Billers, Entitlement Coordinators, and HIV Early Intervention Counselors.

Acacia Network is the largest Hispanic-led nonprofit human services agency in New York State.

The new 3-year labor agreement will run from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023.

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all. https://www.1199seiu.org