Upstate, NY - Nearly 8,000 unionized hospital workers at Kaleida Health voted to ratify a three-year contract with the largest private employer in Western New York.  After three days of voting, hospital workers have a new three-year labor contract, canceling their planned strike vote just two hours before reaching the agreement earlier this month. Workers are represented by Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. 

 

Hospital workers voted on the contract over the last three days at multiple sites across WNY. 

 

1199SEIU members voted 94% in favor and CWA members voted 79.5% in favor to ratify the labor contract. 

 

“This contract provides an excellent wage and benefit package and improvements in staffing. We have language in the contract that will help us to enforce the agreed upon staffing ratios in the contract. With the combination of the contract and the NYS staffing law, we can positively impact working conditions for our members and provide safe, quality care to our community. We believe this agreement will keep Kaleida Health as the premier employer and best place to receive care in the WNY community,” said Cori Gambini, RN and CWA Local 1168 President.

 

“We are thrilled for our union members because the bargaining committee was able to settle a 3-year contract with no concessions. This victory includes competitive wages and benefits that further secure our healthcare workforce in WNY.  The additional improvements in staffing and employer accountability continue to enforce that Kaleida will be the best place to work in WNY.  We are proud of the work we accomplished since March 4th and we will continue to provide the best care to our community” said Cheryl Marino, 1199SEIU Administrative Organizer and lead negotiator.

 

“Our members came together and made it clear: safe staffing with strong enforcement, fair wages, and comprehensive benefits package for a career at Kaleida Health are vital to the care we provide. This contract gives us real accountability on staffing, meaningful raises, and crucial gains for recruitment and retention, all without concessions. These improvements will ensure Kaleida Health remains the leading healthcare employer in the region and will continue to provide the best care for patients across Western New York,” said Patrick Weisansal II, EP Technologist and Vice-President for CWA 1168.

 

“I’ve worked for Kaleida for more than 37 years and I am so happy they finally acknowledged long-term employees with a 25-year step increase.  We invested a lot of time at Kaleida through the mergers, COVID, and changes in the healthcare industry. I feel relieved that they finally value our years of service as long term employees,” Janice Bennett, Cook and 1199SEIU Chairperson at Buffalo General Medical Center. 

 

Union Hospital workers fought to win a comprehensive wage and benefit package to help recruit and retain more workers to improve staffing levels, all without concessions.  The three-year agreement includes a 3% wage increase in the first year, a 3% wage increase in the second year, and a 4% wage increase in the last year of the agreement, totaling 10% over the life of the labor contract. In addition, the employer recognized longevity and dedication by adding an additional wage step at the 25^th year of service that includes an added 3% wage increase.

 

Staffing levels were key during contract talks. Hospital workers previously filed thousands of staffing complaints to the NYS Department of Health^[1] and continue to file complaints when agreed upon staffing plans are not adhered to. Workers want to enforce safe staffing levels to ensure the best possible care for patients. 

 

The new contract includes provisions for an expedited arbitration process if recurring issues are identified in staffing complaints. This new enforcement language can include financial penalties issued by an arbitrator. 

 

Hospital workers negotiated dozens of job upgrades for service workers which moves them into a higher wage classification based on job duties. Workers also won increased shift differential for 3^rd shift to help recruit and retain, but also to improve staffing levels. Preceptor pay was increased to help with onboarding for new nurses whereas training pay for all other titles was also increased. 

 

In addition, there were improvements made to the employer provided medical insurance and pension.  Workers won a one-quarter percent increase in employer provided pension contributions beginning in January 2027.  With the newly added pension increase, the contribution for workers will range 4.25%-5.75% based on years of service.  

 

Hospital workers fought to maintain current rules on use of their paid time off and won.  Long-term care workers are now receiving the same paid time off accruals as their counterparts within the hospitals.

 

The new 3-year labor contract 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.  

 

The three year contract runs through May 31, 2028. 

 

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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.

https://www.1199seiu.org