Upstate, NY – Contract talks between 1199SEIU and Guthrie Lourdes Hospital management is set to begin Monday at 9 AM.  In July^[1], Registered nurses at the hospital in Binghamton voted by a margin of more than 2 to 1 in favor of joining 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country.

 

“Change isn’t coming without us having a seat at the table,” said Katie Thepsombat, RN, CST1.

 

Nurses are fighting for improved staffing levels, better working conditions and a competitive comprehensive wage and benefits package that will retain and recruit caregivers.   

 

"I'm looking forward to working towards a contract which gives nurses at Lourdes Hospital the ability to go back to practicing Guthrie's values of Teamwork, Excellence, and Patient-Centeredness," said Ian Goodman, Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. 

 

The new bargaining unit includes nearly 350 registered nurses employed at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital.  The hospital is a 197-bed acute care facility that joined the Guthrie system in early 2024.^[2]  Nurses provide care in Inpatient/Acute Care, Woundcare, Cardiac Catheterization, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Diagnostic Radiology, Radiology Administration, Medical Oncology, Hem/Oncology Services, and Radiation Oncology.

 

"Nurses need a real say in how our hospital is run, down to how and where resources are allocated. Forming our union means that we will be partners in decision-making with hospital management. When our voices are heard and we have the tools we need to do the job, patients will receive more appropriate care,” said Candice Mozes, RN, ICU.

 

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital nurses now join their 1199SEIU colleagues at Corning Hospital just down the 86 freeway. Workers at Guthrie’s Corning Hospital have been represented by the union for many years, recently negotiating a new contract that improves working conditions, benefits and wages needed to retain and recruit workers at the Hospital.^[3]

 

Negotiations are set for three days per week starting Monday for the next two weeks.  

 

###