Bedside hospital caregivers, service, and campus workers to continue bargaining as affordability crisis grows and more UR workers demand union rights including grad workers and some nurses over staffing levels

 

Rochester, NY - Unionized bedside caregivers, hospital and campus workers agree to second extension of their current labor deal through Saturday, October 3rd at 11:59 PM.  The nearly 50-person member led bargaining committee agreed to extend the labor deal in order to continue negotiating the economic terms and conditions of their employment with the largest private sector employer in upstate.  Discussions over proposed changes in the no discrimination language in the contract and neutrality have increased tensions at the bargaining table. 

 

Allowing neutrality gives all employees at the University of Rochester the right to seek union representation to negotiate their benefits and wages including graduate workers who went on strike last year after the university failed to sign an agreement allowing a pathway to join a union. Neutrality would allow nurses, professionals, and other clinicians at the hospital the same privileges their counterparts in the Professional Homecare^[1] unit fought for last year.  

 

Larger healthcare employers have offered their workers neutrality. This week, more than 70,000 consumer directed personal assistants (CDPAP)^[2] signed cards to join a union after their employer agreed to neutrality. Some question why University of Rochester refuses similar language. 

“University of Rochester’s focus and model for growth is Meliora.  Since this is the slogan and standard for the university why aren’t we focused on unity and equality?  There are a lot of people doing the same jobs whether it’s grad students, nurses, or researchers.  We all deserve respect, equal treatment, and fair wages, why say no to neutrality? Aren’t we ever better,” said Joey Williams, Cook Helper at University of River Campus.

 

Two unions representing approximately 2,000 workers at Strong Memorial Hospital and University of Rochester’s River Campus have been negotiating for their next contract since early August.  Contract talks are ongoing between 1199SEIU, SEIU Local 200United and the University of Rochester. Workers and University of Rochester management are currently negotiating two days per week but the unions are demanding more days with longer hours as is customary in contract talks.  

 

Bedside hospital patient caregivers and service workers employed at Strong Memorial Hospital are represented by 1199SEIU and service workers at the University of Rochester are represented by SEIU Local 200United. 

 

As the affordability crisis and staffing challenges across the University of Rochester system  grows, more and more workers are experiencing devastating consequences over the lack of competitive wages to help their families.  Both unions are working together to negotiate one agreement that will maintain quality health insurance and improve wages to help retain and recruit more staff to provide bedside care and services throughout the University’s system.  Retirement benefits and paid time off will also be key in contract talks for any new labor deal. All this as University of Rochester grad workers continue to fight for union recognition and rights.   

 

Earlier this month, hospital and campus workers from both unions gathered to get an update on contract talks as they gear up to take action with their employer and learn more about their negotiated benefits that workers are fighting to protect amid the affordability crisis. Union members also had a chance to register for the 1199SEIU Childcare Fund benefit, met with local childcare providers and learned more about programs and services for their children ages birth through college. 

 

The contract covering more than 2,000 workers at the largest private sector employer in upstate was set to expire Saturday before both sides agreed to an extension.  Now, both sides have 2 dates to continue negotiations next week through Saturday, October 3rd. A federal mediator from Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was present during early negotiating sessions, however the unions have hired a well experienced private mediator.

Caregivers represented by 1199SEIU at Strong Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester include Patient Care Technicians, Nursing Assistants, Dental Assistants, Materials Processing Specialists, Patient Unit Secretaries, Environmental Service Workers, Cooks, Food Service Workers, Dietary Workers, Drivers, Porters, Stockkeepers, Transport Assistants, Transportation Center Workers, Truck Drivers, and Unit Support Assistants. 

Workers represented by SEIU Local 200United at the University of Rochester Campus include Building Services, Dining Services, Porters, Cooks, Stack Attendants – Library, Catering Service Assistants, Bus Drivers, Truck Drivers, and Stockkeepers.   

 

On Background: 

 

Last year, more than 1,100 of the hospital workers represented by 1199SEIU won a yearslong arbitration over a contracted Scheduling Incentive Program (SIP) not included in their paychecks, despite having earned those monies^[3]. Union contract language helped to ensure workers could receive those earned benefits – highlighting the difference among unionized employees at the largest upstate employer. 

 

More professional and clinical workers at University of Rochester are joining unions to secure a voice on the job, along with guaranteed benefits and wages.  1199SEIU also represents more than 110 professionals and clinicians at University of Rochester’s Medicine Homecare whose 3-year contract^[4] expires next summer.   

 

University of Rochester Graduate Students began forming a union to fight for living wages.^[5] Graduate workers held a massive rally, later going on strike to demand that University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf make good on a promise to sign documents allowing their union election to move forward.

 

In 2023, thousands of University of Rochester hospital and campus workers held an historic one-day strike when they walked off the job during brutal winter weather^[6]. 

 

 

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