Homecare Workers Feel Dedication and Hard Work Is Undervalued By Affiliate of Largest Private Sector Employer, University of Rochester 

Upstate, NY – Today, following a very contentious bargaining session with no resolution last night, 1199SEIU issued a 10-day notice to University of Rochester Medicine Homecare to hold a 5-day strike.  The strike notice comes following a 6-hour session last evening with little progress towards an agreement.  There have been multiple breaks in contract talks due to employer’s availability.   

Professional and clinical homecare workers at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare (URMHC), an affiliate of the largest private sector employer in Upstate overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike up to five days in March but returned to the bargaining table hoping to reach a resolution.  Caregivers in 7 upstate counties have been negotiating for their first union contract since May 2024 demanding reasonable patient caseloads and affordable health insurance coverage.  Caregivers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country.

“It’s not a win for anyone if we have to go on strike,” said Dave Simon, Physical Therapist. 

“I feel like they do not value their front-line homecare workers.  Our CEO has still not come to sit across the table from us.  They just nickel and dime us at every turn constantly but when we ask management can you not afford this? If not, then show us your financials, but then the attorney says – that’s not what we are saying,” said Cindy Lorenzetti, Physical Therapy Assistant.   

The strike will begin on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM and run until Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM.    

The five-day strike protests unfair labor practice and the University’s failure to make movement on several outstanding proposals.  Tensions at the negotiating table continue to run high as URMHC refused to make movement on their proposal last night which is not customary during good faith bargaining.  

Last month, Sarah Miller, Vice-President Human Resources at URMHC gave a lecture on health insurance coverage and told workers that: “nothing in life is free” as they pleaded for affordable coverage to care for their families.  Miller later handed out the same document with inaccuracies on the union’s proposed health insurance coverage and the CEO later mailed the same information to workers. CEO Greg Hutton later sent an email threatening to replace workers if they strike. 

“It’s clear that senior leadership of URMHC/UR and its Board of Directors are not willing to engage in a meaningful way to negotiate a labor contract that respects their workers and keeps them at the agency for the long-term only met to improve the overall continuity of care and stabilize staffing levels.   Absent of any of these efforts, the future of UR Medicine Homecare is uncertain,” said Tracey Harrison, 11999SEIU Vice-President. 

As an affiliate to the largest private employer in Upstate, URMHC is a non-profit organization^[1] yet has accumulated $33 million dollars in profits^[2].  The Board of Directors includes: Dallas Nelson, MD (Chair), Kate Ackerman, MD, Timothy Ashe, Taletha Best, Adam Cardina, Ann Marie Cook, Mark Cronin, James Dickinson II MD, Jason Feinberg, MD, Steven I Goldstein, MD, Barbara Gray, Ann Harrington, Diana Kurty, David Lipari, Mark Prunoske, Alan Resnick, Hazel Robertshaw, PHD, RN, Kathleen Whelehan, Walter Winiarczyk, and Jane Shukitis.^[3]

Professional and clinical homecare workers held a one-day strike late February to protest unfair labor practice at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare (URMHC), an affiliate of University of Rochester according to IRS tax documents. The 1-day unfair labor practice strike^[4] was held as efforts to reach a full-agreement continued to stall over key economic issues.   Caregivers believe that University of Rochester must bring top decision makers to the table to get a deal signed.

In a letter to employees, CEO Greg Hutton dismissed large participation in the strike, leaving workers feeling disrespected. Hutton simply assigned more cases to other staff rather than hiring agency workers which is customary during any strike. 

In early February, homecare workers held an informational picket^[5] outside of URMHC offices in Webster to bring their dispute with the employer to the public. 

Non-economic items and most of the economic items have been tentatively agreed upon by both sides. There are still major outstanding economic issues on the table including: affordable health insurance coverage for workers, reasonable patient caseloads, wages, and more.  URMHC currently has 27 job openings^[6] and has asked workers to cover additional shifts to care for patients. 

In other major Upstate healthcare systems, CEO’s sit at the bargaining table along with managers and supervisors to better understand needs of workers and to reach an agreement within 6 months.^[7]  University of Rochester’s delay tactics on reasonable caseloads increase burnout of caregivers and creates an exit door for beleaguered providers.  

In January, 1199SEIU filed an unfair labor practice against URMHC alleging they bargained in bad faith^[8] when they failed to return a counter proposal on outstanding economic issues with a Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) present at talks. 

University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) workers provide professional home care services for pediatric and adult patients in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yatescounties. Professional Home Care workers are Registered Nurses, Child Life Specialists, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, Dietitians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Pediatric Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, and Speech Language Pathologists.

Professional and clinical home care workers from URMHC are the first and unique type of job category.  Caregivers assist patients with the transition from the hospital back into their home and provide critical nursing care, physical, occupational, speech therapy, medical and social work services.^[9]

Frustration among homecare workers demanding affordable health insurance coverage within their first contract is growing.  “The agency changed our health insurance to a plan that costs over $14,000 per year with premiums and high deductibles not including medications that could cost over $1,000 per month – all with less than 2-month notice,” said Tara Petersen, Physical Therapist Assistant.  “As healthcare professionals, we thought we could always count on affordable, quality healthcare which makes it hard to recruit and retain workers,” said Petersen. 

Homecare workers say that current patient caseloads are unreasonable. But, University of Rochester Medicine Home Care prides itself on providing manageable^[10] caseloads to ensure quality care yet remains at odds with homecare workers who say otherwise.  High caseloads and job demands result in workers leaving the home care agency.

“Our caseloads are heavy and many times we travel many miles to get from home to home,” said Cynthia Lorenzetti, Physical Therapy Assistant. “We all want to do best practice and give 100% at each visit. We want to bring quality care to the patients we serve but also need a better work life balance for all clinicians,” said Lorenzetti.

Earlier this year, during contract talks, about 30 professional and clinical homecare workers from URMHC marched to President and CEO Greg Hutton’s office^[11] to deliver their petition with hundreds of signatures and a list of 14 outstanding economic issues they want settled.   

In a letter from President & CEO of University of Rochester Medicine Homecare declined meeting with 1199SEIU leaders regarding contract talks, deferring questions to inexperienced leaders and a hired attorney.  1199SEIU filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge^[12] with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against URMHC alleging the affiliate of the largest private sector employer in Upstate is bargaining in bad faith^[13].  

In late January, Professional homecare workers at University of Rochester Medicine Homecare  launched a petition and public website (StandWithURMC.Org) urging the Upstate community to call URMHC President & CEO Greg Hutton at 585-669-5100 in demand for a fair contract for workers in 7 Upstate counties and to sign a petition to leaders.  Currently, more than 500 people have signed a public petition urging URMHC leaders and its Board of Directors to settle a fair contract. 

URMHC’s management team lacks healthcare experience and is unwilling to provide reasonable patient caseloads for workers after lengthy subcommittee meetings set up by the Federal Mediator. Both Sarah Miller, VP^[14] of Human Resources^[15] and Christine Garcia, Human Resource Manager previously worked at LiDestri Foods and other non-healthcare employers. 

Progress from University of Rochester management’s side continues to stall following a change in negotiators. Peter Jones^[16] of Bond, Schoeneck, and King is negotiating on behalf of the employer.  A Federal Mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was present until government cuts went through last month.

UR Medicine Home workers are set to return to the bargaining table with management on Tuesday, May 13 at 3:30 PM for their 54^th negotiating session.