This year, 1199 members stood together and fought for their patients, their families and communities time and time again. This led to a great year of victories for our members across the east – from Massachusetts to Florida! Here are just some of the contracts our members won which resulted in protecting benefits, fair wages and more. Congratulations on a wonderful 2014, 1199! Here’s to a great 2015! 2014 was a banner year for new nursing home contracts in New York’s Capital Region, despite a transforming nursing home industry with changes in reimbursement rates and the way care is delivered. Since early last year, 1199SEIU members at 7 area facilities* were able to secure collective bargaining agreements with wage increases, health and retirement benefits, as well as job security and other workplace fairness issues, bringing peace of mind to the caregivers, their residents and all of their families.

*Albany County Nursing Home, Capital Living Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady, Glendale Nursing Home, Mountain View Nursing Home, Springs Nursing Home, Stanton Nursing Home, The Manor at Guilderland Center 2014 was a banner year for new nursing home contracts in New York’s Capital Region, despite a transforming nursing home industry with changes in reimbursement rates and the way care is delivered. Since early last year, 1199SEIU members at 7 area facilities* were able to secure collective bargaining agreements with wage increases, health and retirement benefits, as well as job security and other workplace fairness issues, bringing peace of mind to the caregivers, their residents and all of their families.

*Albany County Nursing Home, Capital Living Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady, Glendale Nursing Home, Mountain View Nursing Home, Springs Nursing Home, Stanton Nursing Home, The Manor at Guilderland Center This year, caregivers at Consulate of North Fort Myers voted overwhelmingly to join 1199. The fifty certified nursing assistants of Consulate of North Fort Myers joined more than 1,800 employees in 20 Consulate facilities throughout Florida. Despite daily attempts by management to intimidate, the caregivers at Consulate of North Fort Myers bravely stood up for a voice in the quality of care they provide and the ability to advocate for a better life for their families 199 members in Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Valley, NY were among the tens of thousands of healthcare workers who stood together and won a 13% raise, protected health benefits, and achieved a fair process for non-union outpatient workers to join 1199. After months of negotiations, including informational picketing, in August, the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes and 1199SEIU came to an agreement for a new 4-year contract. Congratulations to the healthcare workers at Ferncliff Nursing Home, Park Care Pavilion, St. John’s Riverside Hospital, Michael Malotz Skilled Nursing Pavilion, Dobbs Ferry Pavilion, St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Montefiore Mount Vernon, Montefiore New Rochelle and New York Medical College. The 1400 nurses and caregivers at Dimensions Healthcare System in Prince George’s County voted to ratify a new three-year contract that guarantees at least a six percent salary increase, caps work shift cancellations and insures that the $655 million hospital planned for the county will be a union shop.

The vote came after more than 18 months of tough negotiations during where 1199SEIU repeatedly rejected proposals from Dimensions that would give the healthcare system the option of cancelling the more than 30-year-old collective bargaining agreement in the event of a sale or merger. Dimensions put forward this proposal while in talks about a developing relationship with the statewide University of Maryland Medical System.On December 15, caregivers at Whidden Memorial Hospital overwhelmingly ratified a new contract agreement in Everett, MA. Whidden is part of the Cambridge Health Alliance.



Inspired by the national Fight for $15 movement, the new contract achieves important progress for Whidden Memorial Hospital’s low-wage healthcare workers. The agreement, which covers over 230 healthcare workers at the hospital, includes a new minimum state rate of $15/hr. In addition, the new contract provides wage increases to Whidden workers at all experience and paygrade levels who are members of 1199SEIU.