Contract Talks Began For Nearly 4,000 Nursing Home Workers At 27 Care Long-Term Care Facilities in 4 Counties of Upstate Western New York
March 11, 2025
Contract talks for union nursing home workers in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, and Niagara Counties Began Late February
Upstate, NY – Nearly 4,000 union nursing home workers at 27 long-term care facilities in four counties of Western New York began contract talks with their employers late last month. Union contracts covering a majority of the nursing home workers are set to expire April 30, 2025. Caregivers and management bargain weekly.
The 27 nursing homes are located in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, and Niagara Counties. Of those 27 facilities in this historic contract campaign, 24 are for-profit and 3 are not-for profit. Nursing home workers are represented by the largest healthcare workers union in the country, 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East.
Union members work as Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Dieticians, Social Workers, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants, Environmental Service Workers, Maintenance Workers, Dietary and Food Service Workers, Housekeeping & Laundry Workers, Clerical Workers, and Unit Clerks.
Nursing home workers from across four counties of WNY have determined their top priorities for contract talks. Caregivers are fighting for a living wage, quality affordable health benefits, and pension improvements. Workers say that a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, training and education, and a childcare fund will bring more workers in to provide nursing homecare.
Nursing home workers were ready to bargain. “I felt good because these employers know that we are working together and we are serious. The unity workers had at the table represented that we meant business,” said Samira McClure, Certified Nurse Assistant at Schofield Residence in Kenmore.
“I’m encouraged to stand with thousands of nursing home workers across WNY because there is power in numbers and we are united. Because of the numbers we have, I’m optimistic that together we will win a fair contract, said Earl Pugh, Licensed Practical Nurse at Schoellkopf Health Center in Niagara Falls.
Empowering thousands of nursing home members to negotiate a standard set of wages and benefits across Upstate is unprecedented. These negotiations are intentionally aligned with the New York state budget. Our campaign will highlight the dire need for Medicaid equity to keep our nursing homes adequately staffed with experienced long-term caregivers in our upstate communities,” said Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU Vice-President for WNY Nursing Homes.
Of the more than 20 care facilities, there are common owners at 15 care facilities including: RCA Group, Centers for Healthcare, Elderwood Group, McGuire Group, Personal Healthcare, and the Sherman Family.
Most of the for-profit nursing home groups reported a loss in 2022[1] but at the same time racked up millions and millions of dollars in related party transactions. Related party transactions are a way for nursing homeowners to pay related companies they have ownership or interest in for services provided to the nursing home they own such as laundry, pharmaceuticals, and staffing.[2] The New York State Department of Health issued guidelines that owners must publicly disclose any related companies that provide services to a long-term care facility.
Nearly 4,000 union nursing home members participating in the coordinated campaign provide care at:
• Absolut Care of Allegany – Professional & Technical
• Absolut Care of Aurora Park - Professional & Technical
• Autumn View Manor
• Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
• Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Williamsville
• Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Eden Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Elderwood at Lockport
• Elderwood at Williamsville
• Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing
• Fiddlers Green Manor
• Garden Gate Manor
• Gowanda Nursing Home
• Houghton Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Humboldt House Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Newfane Rehabilitation & Health Center
• North Gate Manor
• Our Lady of Peace
• Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns
• Salamanca Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
• Schoellkopf Health Center
• Schofield Residence
• Seneca Manor
• The Grand at Delaware Park
• Williamsville Suburban Care Center
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199SEIU 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.
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[1] New York State, Department of Health, 2022 RHCF Cost Reports
[2] Nursing homes will soon have to report deals with 'non-arms length' companies