(DUNKIRK) – A Tentative Contract Agreement Has Been Reached Between Brooks Memorial Hospital Management in Dunkirk and 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East That Impacts 170 Workers Who are Employed at the Southern Tier Medical Facility, 1199 SEIU Officials Announced Tuesday (Tuesday, August 26th).

Brooks Memorial - a 65-Bed Acute Care, Voluntary, Non-Profit Hospital, Which Also Has An Emergency Department - Serves the Dunkirk Community and Surrounding Northern Chautauqua County Area.  1199 SEIU Represents 170 Workers Employed at the Southern Tier Hospital.  Those Workers Will Take Part in a Ratification Vote That’s Scheduled for September 11th, 1199 SEIU Representatives said.

Earlier This Month, the 1199 SEIU-Represented Workers Took to the Picket Line Outside the Dunkirk Hospital to Call Attention to Management’s Contract Proposals, Which the Union-Represented Workers Described as “Unacceptable” and Would Put Patient Care and the Northern Chautauqua County’s Economy in Jeopardy (Go to: www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2014/08/07/southern-tier-councils/1199-seiu-represented-health-care-workers-hit-the-picket-line-today-outside-dunkirk-s-brooks-memorial-hospital/)

Union Representatives and Hospital Management Issued the Following Joint Statement Regarding the Tentative Agreement:

We are Pleased to Announce Brooks Memorial Hospital and the Workers of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Have Reached a Tentative Contract Settlement.  We Believe This Contract, When Ratified, Will Benefit the Hospital, the Workers and the Entire Community.  The Negotiations, Which Began On March 11th, 2014, Reached Tentative Settlement at Approximately 12:30 a.m. (After Midnight) On August 26th, 2014.  Both Negotiating Teams Acknowledged the Difficult Issues Faced in a Rapidly Changing Health Care Industry and Expressed Confidence This Agreement Sets a Solid Foundation for Continued Collaboration for Building the Future of the Hospital and the Community it Serves.  The Contract Will Not Take Effect Until the Ratification Vote is Taken by the 1199 SEIU Membership.  After Ratification, Details of the Contract Will be Released.

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East – Whose Mission is to Achieve Quality Care and Good Jobs for All - is the Largest and Fastest-Growing Health Care Union in Both New York State and the Nation.  The Union Represents More Than 10,500 Health Care Workers Across Western New York and 250,000 Health Care Workers Throughout New York State, as well as More Than 400,000 Total Members Up and Down the East Coast.