Upstate, NY – Today, University of Rochester Medicine Homecare Workers overwhelmingly voted to give their bargaining committee the authority to issue a 10-day notice for an informational picket. Professional home care workers made their voices heard with a resounding 91% voting in favor of picketing the largest private sector employer in Upstate should talks continue to stall over economic issues.

Homecare workers at the largest private sector employer in Upstate are fighting for reasonable patient caseloads, improved health and safety protections at work, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive wages to recruit and retain staff.    

About 110 professional and clinical home care workers from University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have been negotiating their first labor contract with the largest private sector employer in Upstate, New York since early May.

“With increases in our cases loads, it’s hard to provide the quality care our patients deserve. I enjoy my work and can’t leave my patients because there’s nobody for them if we aren’t there,” said Robert Austen, Physical Therapist. 

The bargaining committee made up of Professional homecare workers will now have the authority to issue their employer a 10-day notice for job action should they not be able to reach a tentative agreement for a contract quickly. While nearly half of the economic items have been agreed upon, many of the major issues impacting workers and their families remain on the table.  

In September, more than two dozen professional home care workers marched through University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Campus^[1] 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. Hines formerly held the position of president and CEO at Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester, along with various other roles in the home care sector. Since then, management has provided additional dates for negotiations, but sessions continue to be limited in duration. 

While there are 8 upcoming dates for negotiations on the books, it should not take this long to settle remaining economic items including productivity, wages, and health insurance. There are two sessions per week scheduled through January. To date, University of Rochester management has provided only some of their financial details related economic talks.  

Most large employers have the capacity to bargain multiple days per week for 12 hours or more per day to expedite the process. “It’s very unusual and not typically how bargaining works,” said Elizabeth Davila, 1199SEIU Administrative Organizer. “We want management to treat negotiations as a high priority for not just staff, but also the patients they serve in their homes,” said Davila.

After six months, progress continues to be sluggish following a change in negotiators on the University of Rochester’s side. A Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has joined negotiations regularly as both sides still have several outstanding economic issues on the table including wages, benefits, and caseload. Non-economic items and nearly half of the economic items have been tentatively agreed upon by both sides.  

As the largest private employer in Upstate, URMHC is a non-profit organization^[2]. 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 will fight for competitive wages at the bargaining table. Following a large turnover of homecare workers leaving URMHC, Interim President and CEO Jane Shukitis returned from retirement only to leave again.^[1] URMHC recently announced that Greg Hutton would take over as President & CEO.^[2]

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 nursing care, physical, occupational, speech therapy, medical and social work services.^[5]

Professional Home Care Workers at URHMC work as 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.

University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) workers provide professional home care services for patients in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. 

Negotiations are set to resume Tuesday, December 3 at 3:30 P.M.

On background:

Since the massive one-day strike held by bedside caregivers and service workers at University of Rochester Medical Center^[6] 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^[7] with the largest private sector employer in Upstate New York. 

More and more professional healthcare workers are voting to join or form unions. In May, more than 800 Resident Physicians at the University of Buffalo formed their union^[8] and held a 4-day strike earlier this year in Buffalo^[9]. Residents are still fighting over low pay, healthcare, and retirement benefits.^[10] 

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^[1] Home care workers march to office of URMC president as negotiations continue - WHEC.com
^[2] Ur Medicine Home Care Certified Services Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[3] UR Medicine Home Care CEO retires | News | fltimes.com
^[4] (1) Facebook
^[5] History - About UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[6] Over 1,000 URMC workers return to work following 1-day strike - WHEC.com
^[7] University of Rochester grad students looking to unionize (spectrumlocalnews.com)
^[8] Meet the doctors behind the UB resident physician union (buffalonews.com)
^[9] UB resident physicians begin strike | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
^[10] More than 800 UB resident doctors could go on strike (buffalonews.com)