Union and Management Worked Collaboratively To Protect Quality Care

Kenmore, NY – More than 80 healthcare workers at Schofield Residence in Kenmore are celebrating a big contract victory this holiday season! Caregivers secured a 2-year union contract with their employer that includes increased wages, increased start rates for newly hired caregivers, wage scales based on seniority, and increased pension contributions. Workers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

The two-year contract covering union caregivers includes an average wage increase of 18%, with competitive starting wage rates and wage scales based on years of experience. On top of their new rate of pay, Union members with 11 or more years of seniority at Schofield, will receive up to an additional 3% wage increase. In year two of the contract, workers will receive an average of 3.4% wage increase.

Schofield and the Union collaborated to show appreciation for the most senior employees, but also worked to retain newly hired workers. The agreement provides for increased new hire start rates. The starting rate for service workers with no experience is $15 per hour, $16.25 per hour for Certified Nurse Assistants, and $23 for Licensed Practical Nurses. These pay rates increase for every year of experience, up to 10 years. The wage scales, along with the starting rates, increase in the second year of the contract.

“We worked collaboratively with the union to come up with a contract that would recognize the hard work and dedication of our current employees,” says Olivia Rozycki. “This contract will help recruit new employees to join our Schofield Team and allow us to continue to provide quality care to our residents,” says Rozycki.

“We are excited that our employer has acknowledged many of our dedicated long-term employees,” says Michelle Shade, a cook at Schofield for 22 years. “We will be able to retain new people with the new start rates and continue to care for people who come to our facility. We both have a common goal to keep Schofield a top-notch facility and to provide quality care for our residents for years to come,” says Shadle.

“Our contract provides for more appropriate and fair wages,” says Stephanie Sikorski, a Physical Therapy Assistant at Schofield for 6 years.

“While we see workers at other nursing homes preparing for job actions to win quality contracts that address the staffing crisis, this employer is setting a good example by providing competitive wages and good benefits that do just that,” says Grace Bogdanove, 1199SEIU Vice-President for WNY Nursing Homes. “This two-year contract provides healthcare workers with a secure future this holiday season. We hope that other nursing homeowners will take note and meet these necessary standards so that workers can focus on providing quality care to their residents,” says Bogdanove.

Healthcare workers covered by the agreement are Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Physical Therapy Aides, Activity Assistants, Activity Aides, Laundry Aides, Dietary Aides, Housekeeping Aides, Physical Therapy Assistants, and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants.

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The two-year agreement expires October 31, 2023.

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Schofield Residence is a 120 bed Skilled Nursing facility that has been providing care to the Kenmore Community for over 110 years.

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.