Caregivers Raise Serious Concerns Over Management’s Unwillingness To Settle Agreement As Calls Grow To Bring University of Rochester Decision Makers To Bargaining Table

Who: Professional and Clinical Homecare workers from UR Medicine Homecare   

What: Press Conference

When: Tuesday, February 18 at 3:30 PM-3:45 PM

Where: 1199SEIU at 259 Monroe Ave, Suite 220, Rochester, NY 14607

Why: Last week, 1199SEIU issued a 10-day notice to hold an unfair labor practice strike on behalf of University of Rochester Medicine Homecare (URMHC) workers. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country. 

Caregivers are calling on University of Rochester leaders to bring decision makers to negotiate agreement now. According to 2022 IRS 990 filings, URMHC is owned by University of Rochester with all decisions being made by the University, the largest private sector employer in Upstate. 

On February 13^th, management was set to provide a counter proposal on any of the outstanding economic issues however, came into the room without one and lectured employees for 40 minutes and left. Professional and clinical homecare workers felt disrespected and began chanting, “shame on you.” 

It appears URMHC management is disrespectful to needs of caregivers by not working towards a fair agreement that could help to recruit and retain more caregivers to work in 7 counties across Upstate. Management shows up with no real plan to negotiate fairly when they fail to follow bargaining rules they agreed to when contract talks began. 

Last week, caregivers reported threats of intimidation and retaliation by managers following an email sent by President and CEO Greg Hutton regarding contract talks. Hutton has never stepped foot in any negotiating session with workers. Caregivers were told they needed to meet face to face with their immediate supervisor and were asked to sign documents pertaining to the strike, letters clearly met to identify union supporters. 

The 1-day strike is set to begin Monday, February 24 at 8:00 AM in front of the URMHC office in Webster with the picket line running from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. 

Professional and clinical homecare workers have been negotiating for a first union contract since May 2024 that includes reasonable patient caseloads and affordable health insurance. 

URMHC is accredited by the Joint Commission of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO), receiving certification in November 2023.^[1] JCAHO accreditations are awarded for focusing on patient safety and high quality of care which aligns with the demands of dedicated professional and clinical caregivers. 

Homecare workers held an informational picket^[2] outside of URMHC offices in Webster earlier this month to bring their dispute with the employer to the public. 

“The clinicians and professionals on the bargaining committee come to every negotiating session, putting compromises on the table, only to be met with no movement from the employer,” said Dave Simon, Physical Therapist. “We cannot negotiate a contract when one side is not willing to move. We do not want this to escalate further, but we are ready to strike if that is what it will take. Up to now our CEO Greg Hutton has not been present for negotiation sessions, and we feel that he should be here to help resolve this to avoid further escalation,” said Simon.  

In January, 1199SEIU filed an unfair labor practice against URMHC alleging they bargained in bad faith^[3] when they failed to return a counter proposal on outstanding economic issues with a Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) present at talks. 

University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) workers provide professional home care services for pediatric and adult patients in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Professional Home Care workers are Registered Nurses, Child Life Specialists, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, Dietitians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Pediatric Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, and Speech Language Pathologists.

Professional and clinical home care workers from URMHC are the first and unique type of job category. Caregivers assist patients with the transition from the hospital back into their home and provide critical nursing care, physical, occupational, speech therapy, medical and social work services.^[4]

“For quite some time there has been a nagging question regarding URMHC’s leadership experience and their ability to protect quality care for patients by retaining and recruiting homecare staff,” said Tracey Harrison, 1199SEIU Vice-President and lead negotiator. “Many workers are asking why 200 employees have left this organization within the last 2 years. Why has this employer brought in staff with no healthcare experience to negotiate a contract for professional healthcare workers who provide critical care for patients daily? Workers need an experienced management team they can rely on. We strongly believe that it’s time for University of Rochester decision makers to join contract talks in an effort to settle a first union contract for workers,” said Harrison.

Frustration among homecare workers demanding affordable health insurance coverage within their first contract is growing. “The agency changed our health insurance to a plan that costs over $14,000 per year with premiums and high deductibles not including medications that could cost over $1,000 per month – all with less than 2-month notice,” said Tara Petersen, Physical Therapist Assistant. “As healthcare professionals, we thought we could always count on affordable, quality, healthcare which makes it hard to recruit and retain workers,” said Petersen. 

Homecare workers say that current patient caseloads are unreasonable. But, University of Rochester Medicine Home Care prides itself on providing manageable^[5] caseloads to ensure quality care yet remain at odds with homecare workers who say otherwise. High caseloads and job demands result in workers leaving home care.^[6]

“Our caseloads are heavy and many times we travel many miles to get from home to home,” said Cynthia Lorenzetti, Physical Therapy Assistant. “We all want to do best practice and give 100% at each visit. We want to bring quality care to the patients we serve, but also need a better work life balance for all clinicians,” said Lorenzetti.

Last month, during contract talks, about 30 professional and clinical homecare workers from URMHC marched to President and CEO Greg Hutton’s office^[7] to deliver their petition with hundreds of signatures and a list of 14 outstanding economic issues they want settled.  

There are still major outstanding economic issues on the table including: affordable health insurance coverage for workers, reasonable patient caseloads, wages, and more. URMHC currently has 26 job openings^[8] and has asked workers to cover additional shifts to care for patients. 

Last month, in a letter from President & CEO of University of Rochester Medicine Homecare declined meeting with 1199SEIU leaders regarding contract talks, deferring questions to inexperienced leaders and a hired attorney. 1199SEIU filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge^[9] with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against URMHC alleging the affiliate of the largest private sector employer in Upstate is bargaining in bad faith^[10].

University of Rochester Medicine Homecare leaders continue stall tactics during negotiations by repeatedly bouncing back and forth between open economic topics – never settling or signing any agreement in ink. Management is never prepared to provide definitive answers, leaving workers to believe that decision makers are not in the room during talks. University of Rochester’s delay tactics on reasonable caseloads increase burnout of caregivers and creates an exit door for beleaguered providers. 

In late January, Professional homecare workers at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare launched a petition and public website (StandWithURMC.Org) urging the Upstate community to call URMHC President & CEO Greg Hutton at 585-669-5100 in demand for a fair contract for workers in 7 Upstate counties and to sign a petition to leaders. Currently, more than 400 people have signed the public petition urging URMHC leaders and its Board of Directors to settle a fair contract. 

URMHC’s management team lacks healthcare experience and is unwilling to provide reasonable patient caseloads for workers after lengthy subcommittee meetings set up by the Federal Mediator. Both Sarah Miller, VP^[11] of Human Resources^[12] and Christine Garcia, Human Resource Manager previously worked at LiDestri Foods and other non-healthcare employers. 

Progress from University of Rochester management’s side continues to stall following a change in negotiators. Peter Jones^[13] of Bond, Schoeneck, and King is negotiating on behalf of the employer. A Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has joined negotiations regularly. Non-economic items and nearly half of the economic items have been tentatively agreed upon by both sides. However, URMHC management often fails to make any movement on remaining economic issues or regresses, leaving workers frustrated.   

As an affiliate to the largest private employer in Upstate, URMHC is a non-profit organization^[14] with a Board of Directors including: Dallas Nelson, MD (Chair), Kate Ackerman, MD, Timothy Ashe, Taletha Best, Adam Cardina, Ann Marie Cook, Mark Cronin, James Dickinson II MD, Jason Feinberg, MD, Steven I Goldstein, MD, Barbara Gray, Ann Harrington, Diana Kurty, David Lipari, Mark Prunoske, Alan Resnick, Hazel Robertshaw, PHD, RN, Kathleen Whelehan, Walter Winiarczyk, and Jane Shukitis.^[15]

Homecare workers and URMHC management are set to resume economic talks Tuesday, February 18 beginning at 3:30 PM. It is the last scheduled session before the ULP Strike next week. Most employers will offer additional and longer days before any strike would happen. 

On background:

According to 2022 IRS Tax Filings, several companies tied to URMHC earned millions in profits, while URMHC has a $2.3 million dollar endowment and a $2.6 million dollar expansion fund. 

Leaders at URMHC are top earners with six figure salaries, while professional home care workers fight for affordable health insurance. Following a large turnover of homecare workers leaving URMHC, Interim President and CEO Jane Shukitis returned from retirement only to leave again.^[16] URMHC recently announced that Greg Hutton would take over as President & CEO.^[17]

About 110 professional and clinical home care workers from University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) have been negotiating their first labor contract with the largest private sector employer in Upstate, New York since early May 2024. 

Homecare workers at the largest private sector employer in Upstate are fighting for reasonable patient caseloads to protect quality care and a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive wages and affordable health insurance to recruit and retain staff.    

In September, more than two dozen professional home care workers marchedthrough University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Campus^[18] to call on University of Rochester CEO and President Kathy Parrinello to provide more dates for bargaining their first contract with longer hours for each session however, Parrinello was not on campus that day. Instead, workers delivered their message to Senior University of Rochester leaders including Vicky Hines, Chief Operating Officer for University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group.

Since the massive one-day strike held by bedside caregivers and service workers at University of Rochester Medical Center^[19] last year, more and more workers in Rochester are voting to join a union and secure a contract.   

Earlier this year, University of Rochester Graduate Students began forming a union to fight for living wages^[20] with the largest private sector employer in Upstate New York. Graduate workers will hold a large rally on Tuesday, 2/18 at 4PM in Wilson Quad to demand that UR President Sarah Mangelsdorf make good on a promise to sign documents allowing their union election to move forward. 

More and more professional healthcare workers are voting to join or form unions. In January, dental residents organized to join a labor union in Buffalo^[21]. 

Last May, more than 800 Resident Physicians at the University of Buffalo formed their union^[22] and held a 4-day strike in Buffalo^[23]. Residents recently settled their contract fight^[24] over low pay, healthcare, and retirement benefits.^[25] 

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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

____________________

^[1] Find Accredited Organizations | The Joint Commission
^[2] Home care workers at UR Medicine picket to demand contract resolution (13wham.com)
^[3] Union files unfair labor practices against U of R Medicine 'for bargaining in bad faith' | | fltimes.com
^[4] History - About UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[5] Careers - UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[6] Careers - UR Medicine Home Care - Current Opportunities - University of Rochester Medical Center (pageuppeople.com
^[7] Workers Hold March on President & CEO footage here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18QXaSFQpS/
^[8] UR Medicine Home Care Licensed Inc Jobs (appone.com)
^[9] Contract negotiations turn contentious at URMHC (rbj.net)

^[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw9p_q_APUU
^[12] Sarah Miller - UR Medicine Home Care | LinkedIn
^[13] Peter Jones, labor and employment law lawyer, Bond, Schoeneck & King, Syracuse, New York (bsk.com)
^[14] Ur Medicine Home Care Certified Services Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[15] Board of Directors - About UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[16] UR Medicine Home Care CEO retires | News | fltimes.com
^[17] (1) Facebook
^[18] Home care workers march to office of URMC president as negotiations continue - WHEC.com
^[19] Over 1,000 URMC workers return to work following 1-day strike - WHEC.com
^[20] University of Rochester grad students looking to unionize (spectrumlocalnews.com)
^[21] Buffalo dental residents unite for better training, staffing, and pay | wgrz.com
^[22] Meet the doctors behind the UB resident physician union (buffalonews.com)
^[23] UB resident physicians begin strike | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
^[24] UB resident physicians reach contract agreement with UMRS | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
^[25] More than 800 UB resident doctors could go on strike (buffalonews.com)