Workers Demand the Walgreens Backed Company
Begin Contract Negotiations

Rye Brook, NY: Earlier today registered nurses and other caregivers from Summit Health attempted to present a “giant” petition to Summit executives at their offices in Rye Brook. The petition signed by hundreds of Summit staff demands the healthcare giant begin respecting their employees and start bargaining in good faith. Outrageously the frontline healthcare workers were refused entry to the corporate offices, and they were forced to stand on the Westchester Avenue sidewalk with community supporters.

“Nobody–least of all healthcare workers–should put off seeing a doctor, but some Summit staff are doing just that because of our high copays and deductibles. We know the benefits that 1199SEIU caregivers at other institutions receive. We deserve similar benefits,” said Lori Eriksen, a lead sterile Processing technician, who has worked at Summit Health for almost a decade.

In February, close to 1,000 caregivers who work at six Summit Health locations in Westchester County and one site in Greenwich voted to form a union with 1199SEIU. For months, Summit Health management has delayed in providing information necessary for the union to begin contract negotiations–forcing the union to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Federal law requires employers to bargain in good faith with workers who democratically vote to join together in union.

“We are here today to force Summit Health to see us and listen to us. We voted to form our own union with 1199 through the National Labor Relations Board and Summit has a legal obligation to negotiate with us. We will not be stopped,” said Krystle Pagan, a registered nurse who has been at Summit for ten years.

Summit Health, a for-profit corporation that operates almost 370 locations, was the result of a 2019 merger between Summit Medical Group and CityMD. VillageMD, which is majority owned by Walgreens, acquired Summit Health in early 2023 for $8.9 billion. Walgreens had $139 billion in sales in fiscal year 2023.