Caregivers Raise Concern Over Management’s Continued Stall Tactics and Demand that University of Rochester Decision Makers Join Contract Talks As CEO Greg Hutton Refuses To Face Workers At Bargaining Table 

Upstate, NY – Professional and clinical homecare workers covering 7 upstate counties have been negotiating for their first union contract since May 2024 that includes reasonable patient caseloads and affordable health insurance coverage but their employer continues to delay efforts to reach a full settlement for contract. Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country.

As an affiliate to the largest private employer in Upstate, URMHC is a non-profit organization^[2] yet has banked $33 million dollars in profits^[3]. The Board of Directors includes: 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.^[4]

Homecare workers are set to return to the bargaining table on Monday, March 10 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Shifting negotiating times to the workday may affect worker participation. 

URMHC must be prepared to give an economic counter proposal to 1199SEIU on Monday, allowing negotiations to move forward. In recent talks however, URMHC management left early without a counter proposal or regressed on their position, offering workers less than previous sessions – never signing any language in ink. Should management continue to negotiate in bad faith, the Union may need to file additional unfair labor practice charges.

Management is never prepared to provide definitive answers, leaving workers to believe that decision makers are not in the room during talks. In other major Upstate healthcare systems, CEO’s sit at the bargaining table along with managers and supervisors to better understand needs of workers and to reach an agreement within 6 months.^[5] University of Rochester’s delay tactics on reasonable caseloads increase burnout of caregivers and creates an exit door for beleaguered providers. 

Professional and clinical homecare workers held a one-day strike last month to protest unfair labor practice at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare (URMHC), an affiliate of University of Rochester according to IRS tax documents. The 1-day unfair labor practice strike^[6] was held as efforts to reach a full-agreement continued to stall over key economic issues.  Caregivers believe that University of Rochester must bring top decision makers to the table to get a deal signed.

In a letter to employees, CEO Greg Hutton dismissed large participation in the strike, leaving workers feeling disrespected (see below). Hutton simply assigned more cases to other staff rather than hiring agency workers which is customary during any strike. 

In February, homecare workers held an informational picket^[7] outside of URMHC offices in Webster to bring their dispute with the employer to the public. 

Non-economic items and nearly half of the economic items have been tentatively agreed upon by both sides. 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. 

“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,” said Simon.  

In January, 1199SEIU filed an unfair labor practice against URMHC alleging they bargained in bad faith^[9]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.^[10]

“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 UR 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^[11] caseloads to ensure quality care yet remains at odds with homecare workers who say otherwise. High caseloads and job demands result in workers leaving the home care agency.

“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.

Earlier this year, during contract talks, about 30 professional and clinical homecare workers from URMHC marched to President and CEO Greg Hutton’s office^[12] to deliver their petition with hundreds of signatures and a list of 14 outstanding economic issues they want settled.  

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^[13] 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^[14]. 

In late January, Professional homecare workers at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare launched a petitionand 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 500 people have signed a 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^[15] of Human Resources^[16] 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^[17] 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. 

“LETTER – CEO MESSAGE FEBRUARY

From: Hutton, Greg 

Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:42 AM

Subject: CEO Message - February 

Dear Team,

Strike Update

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the events of this past week. While some staff members chose to participate in a strike, many of you remained committed to ensuring our patients continued to receive the care they depend on.

To those departments and individuals who showed up, adapted to the challenges, and took on extra responsibilities to make sure that the impact to patients was minimized—I sincerely thank you. Your dedication, teamwork, and compassion truly made a difference. A special thank you to those who went above and beyond to help adjust schedules and cover visits. Your efforts ensured that our patients remained safe and cared for during a challenging time.

I understand that everyone has the right to make their own decisions, but our priority as a home care agency will always be our patients. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with the bargaining unit members to reach a fair and sustainable contract for all. 

Again, thank you to those who demonstrated their commitment to our patients and to each other. Your dedication is deeply appreciated.

Greg”

On background:

URMHC is accredited by the Joint Commission of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO), receiving certification in November 2023.^[18] 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. 

According to 2022 IRS Tax Filings, several companies tied to URMHC earned millions in profits^[19], 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.^[20] URMHC recently announced that Greg Hutton would take over as President & CEO.^[21]

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 marched through University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Campus^[22] 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^[23] 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.^[24] Graduate workers will held a massive rally this week to demand that UR President Sarah Mangelsdorf make good on a promise to sign documents allowing their union election to move forward. Graduate students are threatening to strike.^[25] 

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^[26]. 

Last May, more than 800 Resident Physicians at the University of Buffalo formed their union^[27] and held a 4-day strike in Buffalo^[28]. Residents recently settled their contract fight^[29] over low pay, healthcare, and retirement benefits.^[30] 

###

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] Organization Search - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[2] Ur Medicine Home Care Certified Services Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[3] Organization Search - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[4] Board of Directors - About UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[5] Kaleida Health and unions vie for a new contract agreement | wgrz.com
^[6] UR Medicine Home Care workers go on strike
^[7] Home care workers at UR Medicine picket to demand contract resolution
^[8] UR Medicine Home Care Licensed Inc Jobs
^[9] Union files unfair labor practices against U of R Medicine 'for bargaining in bad faith' | | fltimes.com
^[10] History - About UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[11] Careers - UR Medicine Home Care - University of Rochester Medical Center
^[12] Caregivers March on Boss - https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18QXaSFQpS/
^[13] Contract negotiations turn contentious at URMHC
^[14] 1199 SEIU Files ULP Charge Against University Of Rochester Medicine Homecare For ‘Bargaining In Bad Faith,’ As 400 People Sign Public Petition ‘Demanding Its President/CEO Settle A Fair First Contract’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York
^[15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw9p_q_APUU
^[16] Sarah Miller - UR Medicine Home Care | LinkedIn
^[17] Peter Jones, labor and employment law lawyer, Bond, Schoeneck & King, Syracuse, New York (bsk.com)
^[18] Find Accredited Organizations | The Joint Commission
^[19] Organization Search - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
^[20] UR Medicine Home Care CEO retires | News | fltimes.com
^[21] (1) Facebook
^[22] Home care workers march to office of URMC president as negotiations continue - WHEC.com
^[23] Over 1,000 URMC workers return to work following 1-day strike - WHEC.com
^[24] University of Rochester grad students looking to unionize
^[25] UR graduate workers threaten to strike
^[26] Buffalo dental residents unite for better training, staffing, and pay | wgrz.com
^[27] Meet the doctors behind the UB resident physician union
^[28] UB resident physicians begin strike | News 4 Buffalo
^[29] UB resident physicians reach contract agreement with UMRS | News 4 Buffalo
^[30] More than 800 UB resident doctors could go on strike