Upstate, NY – 1199SEIU reached a 3-year Tentative Agreement with Corning Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare late last week. The new agreement comes as caregivers were ready to hit the picket lines to fight for improved staffing levels, quality health insurance, and competitive wages to help retain and recruit more caregivers. 

The previous 3-year contract expired on April 30, 2025 and caregivers negotiated the new agreement for over a month.  Nursing home workers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country. 

“It took us several months for our committee to reach an agreement that we believe will help to recruit and retain more workers.  We are ready to take this back to our membership for a vote,” said Jane Dillon, Unit Clerk at Corning Center. 

Caregivers will have a chance to review the agreement at a ratification vote to be held next week.If ratified, details of the agreement will be made public following the vote. Any plan for an informational picket is now on hold pending the outcome of the vote. 

Typically, 100 nursing home workers provide care for residents at Corning Center which is a 120 bed for-profit facility according to NYS Department of Health. However, more recently there are closer to 60 caregivers working at the home according to the latest report provided to the union.  

Union members at Corning Center work as Activities Aides, Central Supply Clerks, Certified Nurse Assistants, Dietary Aides, Drivers, Housekeepers, Licensed Practical Nurses, Maintenance Techs, Rehabilitation Aides, Receptionists, Unit Assistants and Unit Clerks.

On background:

Corning Center^[1] is controlled and managed by Centers for Care LLC doing business as Centers Health Care. Centers Healthcare, a Bronx-based company is one of the largest nursing home operators in New York and New Jersey^[2]. In 2024, New York Attorney General accused owners and related parties of intentionally understaffing facilities impacting quality of care for residents,^[3] resulting in a $45 million settlement. Centers Healthcare is co-owned by Kenneth Rozenberg^[4] and Daryl Hagler.  

Kenneth Rozenberg is majority owner of the facility’s operating entity.^[5] The lawsuit brought by Attorney General James also alleged that Centers Healthcare owners withdrew $83 million dollars through related party transactions meant for patient care.^[6]

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 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

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^[1] NYS Health Profile: Corning Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
^[2] Get in Touch with Centers Health Care | Centers Health Care
^[3] Office of the New York State Attorney General, Press releases, Attorney General James Sues Owners and Operators of Four Nursing Homes for Financial Fraud and Resident Neglect, June 28, 2023, https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2023/attorney-general-james-sues-owners-and-operators-four-nursing-homes-financial
^[4] Corning Center – Centers Health Care Nursing and RehabilitationKenny Rozenberg: Advancing Nursing Home Care in Corning - Corning Center - Centers Health Care Nursing and Rehabilitation
^[5] NYS Health Profile: Corning Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
^[6] New York nursing home operator to pay $45 million over claims it stole funds, neglected care | Reuters