Once again proving that there is strength in unity, 1199SEIU members at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, New York overwhelmingly ratified a contract agreement that will maintain affordable health benefits, pensions, and training and education opportunities. The two-year contract extension, which also keeps in place provisions for daily overtime, includes significant wage increases, ranging from 5.5% to 9.5% over the duration of the agreement.



The settlement is a relief and victory for the workers and residents of the Western New York communities served by the hospital, in light of the uncertainty that comes with the current trend of healthcare institution mergers and consolidations, across the New York State.





1199 and CWA members formed an alliance with the community to protect

good jobs and quality care in Western New York. Above: A training session.





In response to the July 1 sale of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital to the Catholic Health System (by former owner Ascension Health), 1199SEIU members and healthcare workers who are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), joined with the community to organize a campaign to ensure that vital healthcare worker jobs and quality patient care will not be jeopardized in this transition---and while the consolidation trend continues. The 1199SEIU bargaining committee noted that it is not a coincidence the contract extension settlement was reached soon after the community/labor alliance united to raise awareness and protect healthcare standards.



The extension agreement covers 422 hospital employees in three 1199SEIU bargaining units at Mount St. Mary’s including, nurses, service, maintenance and technical workers. The contract was set to expire on October 31, 2015 and is now in place until October 31, 2017.