1199SEIU and CWA Agree To 4th Contract Extension As Strike Vote Nears
June 30, 2025
Labor Contract Covering Nearly 8,000 Hospital Workers Is Now Set To Expire Friday, July 4 At 11:59 PM With A Strike Authorization Vote Just Days Away
Upstate, NY – Late today, unionized Hospital workers at Upstate Western New York’s largest private sector employer agreed to a fourth contract extension. The latest extension for Kaleida Health workers will expire July 4 at 11:59 PM just days before strike authorization votes will be held.
Nearly 8,000 workers are demanding improvements in benefits and wages that would recruit and retain more staff to care for patients at Kaleida Health’s hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics across Western New York. Healthcare workers are represented by Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
Union healthcare workers are beginning to organize around their upcoming strike vote and plan a telephone town hall for workers next week. The strike authorization vote will be held over three days:
• July 8 and July 9 at Wyndham Garden Downtown from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM
• July 10 at CWA Headquarters in Amherst from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Contract talks remain divisive as caregivers are fighting to improve staffing and to protect patient care. The unions still have a number of key proposals on the table in an effort to address chronic staffing issues across Kaleida Health.
Healthcare workers are demanding improved staffing levels, increased safety protections, job security, as well as dignity and respect.
Workers also believe that Kaleida Health must offer a comprehensive wage and benefit package to recruit and retain experienced workers to provide care for patients as well as improvements in pension and a childcare fund. As the largest hospital system in WNY, a childcare benefit could help WNY families ensure care for their young children while on the job, improving retention rates and eliminating childcare barriers for workers.
The upcoming strike authorization vote comes at time when Congressional Republicans are looking to cut vital Medicaid funding critical to hospitals, nursing homes, and homecare. More recently, President and CEO of Kaleida Health, Don Boyd stated that safety net hospitals, like Oishei Children’s could lose $65 million dollars in Medicaid funding per year[1].
Most of Kaleida Health’s hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics are located in the 26th Congressional District. In that district alone, more than 69% of all people admitted to hospitals have Medicaid or Medicare as their primary insurance coverage which is 56% of patient revenue.[2]
The current 3-year collective bargaining agreement covers nearly 8,000 healthcare workers at Buffalo General Medical Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, HighPointe on Michigan, DeGraff Medical Park, and various community-based clinics across Western New York.
Union members work as Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Professionals, Technical Employees, Clinicians, Business Office Clerical, and Service and Maintenance at three major hospitals, 2 nursing homes and a variety of clinics across Erie and Niagara Counties.
A Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was present during contract talks until government cuts. Unions and management hired a mediator familiar with both parties, who joins the talks daily.
Bargaining is set to resume Monday morning at 9:00 AM.
On background:
Congressional Republicans are determined to cut vital health insurance coverage to millions of children, adults, people with disabilities and the most frail and elderly citizens all to fund tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. These tax cuts for billionaires are nothing more than a target to hard working families and struggling communities in both rural and urban areas.
New York faces the loss of 72,000 health care jobs[3] and would lose $6.7 billion dollars in federal funding in 2026. These devastating cuts come at a time when most hospitals and nursing homes are experiencing staffing issues because of the multi-year pandemic. These drastic cuts will disrupt care and programs essential for health and productivity of those who rely on Medicaid including hospitals like Kaleida Health.
Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and the states, and it is supported by 77 percent of Americans. Deep Medicaid cuts would have a devastating impact on state budgets, forcing state leaders to make impossible choices regarding cuts to vital services.
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The Communications Workers of America represents 300,000 working people nationally in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, and manufacturing.
https://www.cwa1168.org
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.
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[1] Kaleida CEO warns of major cuts if Medicaid bill passes - Buffalo Business First
[2] 26th Congressional District | Timothy Kennedy | Economic & Community Benefit | HANYS
[3] Medicaid, SNAP Cuts Could Trigger Job Loss, Less State Revenue | Commonwealth Fund