Tentative agreement ensures quality healthcare and good jobs at Harlem and Bronx community health centers that focus on underserved communities.
More than 130 nurses and healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU have reached an agreement with the Institute for Family Health (the Institute), a network of federally qualified health centers. The agreement covers registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, technicians, clerks, dietitians, nutritionists, dental hygienists, breast feeding advocates, case managers, medical assistants, dental assistants and other caregivers at the Institute’s centers in Harlem and The Bronx. The long negotiation process led to a contract which was described by both 1199 and the Institute as fair and reflective of the needs of the patients, caregivers, the Institute and the community.
The new contract includes retroactive and prospective wage increases of 15% from 2013 through 2018 for all workers. It also provides for increases to the minimum annual rates for most job classifications and step increases for some classifications. Workers also received an increase in their uniform allowance and will be able to establish a Workplace Practice Committee. The Workplace Practice Committee will convene to provide a forum for workers and management so that they can focus on providing the highest quality care to the Institute’s patient population and continue to innovate models of care for which the Institute is so well known. Many of the Institute’s patients have been traditionally underserved by the healthcare system and suffer from diabetes, asthma, obesity and other chronic physical, mental health and dental problems.
The 1199SEIU members who negotiated the contract on behalf of their co-workers were perhaps most proud to maintain the worker’s high quality healthcare, educational and child care benefits. “Our strong benefits really help us advance our skills and serve our patients” said patient service representative, Anna Barrow. “The educational benefits have helped me to advance my career. I started as a nurse’s aide and worked my way through school, which was only possible because of the educational benefits.”
“This contract shows what we can achieve when unions and employers work together for our patients,” said George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU. “As healthcare workers, it is our mission to put patient care first, particularly in underserved communities. It is our strong belief, which we share with the Institute for Family Health, that all New Yorkers deserve quality healthcare, not just the wealthy few. This agreement will help to create a positive and respectful workplace which will ultimately benefit the patients.”
Dr. Neil Calman, President, CEO and co-founder of the Institute said “We continue to strongly support the dedicated workers in the union and are pleased that we have been able to provide annual salary increases over the life of a 5-year agreement as well as substantial base salary adjustments where they were warranted by changes in the market for professionals working in the growing network of primary care centers. Equally important is a commitment with the union to engage in joint training programs to help reorient workers affected by the continued downsizing of the hospital sector and the growth of jobs in primary care. As we continue our growth of community health facilities and their embedded training programs for family doctors, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, social workers, medical students and dental residents, we will be developing ongoing, regular training for 1199 staff in team practice, the patient-centered medical home, outreach, using data to track and monitor our patients’ health care needs, customer service and in many other areas.”
Coral Mejia, a registered nurse at the Institute’s Harlem location has also utilized 1199’s educational benefits since joining the union in 2011. “I’m pursuing my nurse practitioner degree.” As she reflected upon the nearly two year process Mejia said, “We are getting fair wage increases and our benefits are protected. It instills a lot of faith in nurses and caregivers to know that their employer negotiated in good faith and appreciates the work that we do for the community and for our patients.”
More than 130 nurses and healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU have reached an agreement with the Institute for Family Health (the Institute), a network of federally qualified health centers. The agreement covers registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, technicians, clerks, dietitians, nutritionists, dental hygienists, breast feeding advocates, case managers, medical assistants, dental assistants and other caregivers at the Institute’s centers in Harlem and The Bronx. The long negotiation process led to a contract which was described by both 1199 and the Institute as fair and reflective of the needs of the patients, caregivers, the Institute and the community.
The new contract includes retroactive and prospective wage increases of 15% from 2013 through 2018 for all workers. It also provides for increases to the minimum annual rates for most job classifications and step increases for some classifications. Workers also received an increase in their uniform allowance and will be able to establish a Workplace Practice Committee. The Workplace Practice Committee will convene to provide a forum for workers and management so that they can focus on providing the highest quality care to the Institute’s patient population and continue to innovate models of care for which the Institute is so well known. Many of the Institute’s patients have been traditionally underserved by the healthcare system and suffer from diabetes, asthma, obesity and other chronic physical, mental health and dental problems.
The 1199SEIU members who negotiated the contract on behalf of their co-workers were perhaps most proud to maintain the worker’s high quality healthcare, educational and child care benefits. “Our strong benefits really help us advance our skills and serve our patients” said patient service representative, Anna Barrow. “The educational benefits have helped me to advance my career. I started as a nurse’s aide and worked my way through school, which was only possible because of the educational benefits.”
“This contract shows what we can achieve when unions and employers work together for our patients,” said George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU. “As healthcare workers, it is our mission to put patient care first, particularly in underserved communities. It is our strong belief, which we share with the Institute for Family Health, that all New Yorkers deserve quality healthcare, not just the wealthy few. This agreement will help to create a positive and respectful workplace which will ultimately benefit the patients.”
Dr. Neil Calman, President, CEO and co-founder of the Institute said “We continue to strongly support the dedicated workers in the union and are pleased that we have been able to provide annual salary increases over the life of a 5-year agreement as well as substantial base salary adjustments where they were warranted by changes in the market for professionals working in the growing network of primary care centers. Equally important is a commitment with the union to engage in joint training programs to help reorient workers affected by the continued downsizing of the hospital sector and the growth of jobs in primary care. As we continue our growth of community health facilities and their embedded training programs for family doctors, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, social workers, medical students and dental residents, we will be developing ongoing, regular training for 1199 staff in team practice, the patient-centered medical home, outreach, using data to track and monitor our patients’ health care needs, customer service and in many other areas.”
Coral Mejia, a registered nurse at the Institute’s Harlem location has also utilized 1199’s educational benefits since joining the union in 2011. “I’m pursuing my nurse practitioner degree.” As she reflected upon the nearly two year process Mejia said, “We are getting fair wage increases and our benefits are protected. It instills a lot of faith in nurses and caregivers to know that their employer negotiated in good faith and appreciates the work that we do for the community and for our patients.”
