Largest Healthcare Workers Union in New York Begins Contract Talks With Strong Memorial Hospital & University of Rochester This Week
August 22, 2023
For immediate release: August 22, 2023
Contact: April Ezzell, 716-449-1620
Union Contract Covering More than 1,800 workers set to expire next month
Workers employed by the hospital are represented by 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, and workers on the University of Rochester campus are represented by 200United SEIU. Both unions are coming together to negotiate one agreement that includes fair wage increases that respect the high level of service and support provided throughout the hospital and campus. Better wages and a quality comprehensive benefit package will also help to retain and recruit more workers and alleviate short staffing problems.
“We asked them not to forget about us and they have forgotten about us,” said Dana Allison, Patient Care Technician. “We were called heroes and we are still lagging behind in wages,” said Allison.
Workers represented by SEIU Local 200United at the University of Rochester campus include Building Services, Dining Services, Porters, Cooks, Stack Attendants – Library, Catering Service Assistants, Bus Drivers, Truck Drivers, and Stockkeepers.
Workers represented by 1199SEIU at Strong Memorial Hospital include Environmental Service Workers, Nursing Assistants, Cooks, Food Service Workers, Dietary Workers, Dental Assistants, Drivers, Patient Care Technicians, Materials Processing Specialists, Patient Unity Secretaries, Porters, Stockkeepers, Transport Assistants, Transportation Center Workers, Truck Drivers, and Unit Support Assistants.
A Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation Conciliation Services will join negotiations on the first day. Both sides have agreed to eight sessions over the next several weeks including another session on Thursday.
###
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.
SEIU Local 200United, a union of thousands of members who are working people striving for fair and just workplaces and communities. We represent two million members in New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania in the public and private sector.