Corning Hospital Picket Yields New Contract

June 19, 2013

“Rain, rain, go away! 1199 is here to stay!” chanted Guthrie Corning Hospital employees and community allies during an informational picket in front of the hospital on June 6 . Over 300 union supporters, dressed in 1199SEIU yellow parkas, braved all-day soaking rains to draw strength from and garner the support of the Corning community.



Forced to the streets by management's proposals to nearly double the employee paid family health insurance premiums, a pay scheme linked to hospital performance scores, and reductions in an advanced nursing program, Corning Hospital nurses hoped that the informational picket would be an “eye opener to Management that they what got on table isn't going to work for us,” said Kaitlyn Cunningham, an RN at the hospital.



And open their eyes it did. Just two days after the informational picket, employee and management negotiators reached a tentative agreement that settled all outstanding labor dispute sticking points.



Overwhelmingly ratified by the membership on June 13, t he new agreement extends to April 30, 2016 and includes across the board wage increases totaling six percent.



The Hospital’s payment for health insurance premiums, one of the most hotly contested issues in the talks, will remain unchanged at the 90 perent level for single, two-person, and family coverages until January 2016, when it will go to 85 percent.



“After the picket management stopped being delirious and finally got serious,” said Peg Clark, an ER Registration Clerk. “I think both sides will be able to move forward in a very positive direction. We are looking forward to moving to the new facility and to working hand in hand to provide quality care to our community.”