(CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK) – Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1122-represented Workers employed by the Visiting Nurses Association of Northwest Pennsylvania (VNANP) have overwhelmingly ratified their first contract, Officials of the Suburban Buffalo-headquartered Union announced Friday (September 8th).

The contract covers 28 Workers who are employed as Registered Nurses (RNs), Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Therapists, Assistant Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Dieticians, Home Health Care Aides and Homecare Hospice Clerks.  The VNANP is headquartered in Bradford, Pennsylvania and the VNANP Employees work in McKean County.

The Unit, which was voluntarily recognized by the VNANP in September (2016), “is proud” of their first agreement, according to CWA Local 1122 President James Wagner.

“This ‘shows the type of relationship (the CWA and the VNANP) has developed over the course of time,’” Wagner told WNYLaborToday.com of the new contract, “which took three to four months to negotiate.”  “This ‘standard we have negotiated is the best in the industry’ and ‘we have set the market standard both here in Western New York and in Northwest Pennsylvania.’”

Highlights of the agreement include: A grievance procedure to solve workplace issues; Clarification and memorialization of many benefits, such as Paid Time Off, Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty; Guaranteed pay raises of 3.5%, 2.75% and 2.75% over the three-year agreement; Increased start rates to help with recruitment; Structured temporary downsizing and layoff and recall language; and most importantly - a voice in the workplace.

The CWA represents Workers across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  In CWA District 1 - where CWA Local 1122 is located, the Union represents Unionized Health Care Workers across Western New York and in the New York State Cities of Syracuse, Elmira, Utica, Albany, New York City and in Westchester County, and in the State of New Jersey.

Earlier this year in April, CWA Local 1122 – which represents a total of 650 Workers who are employed by the VNA across Western New York, announced ratification of a new three-year contract with the VNA that will expire in March 2020. 

That contract featured, according to CWA Reps, a 7.75% wage increase over the life of the three-year pact, as well as “no changes” in the VNA’s health care benefit plan for its Unionized Workers, as well as several other improvements, including exposure to bed bugs during home visits and Bereavement Leave coverings the death of grandparents and grandchildren.

Founded in 1885, the VNA of Western New York was the first Visiting Nursing Organization in America.  Since then, the VNA has become one of the oldest charities in the nation and remains the largest Home Health Agency in the Western New York Region.

From humble beginnings in Western New York, the VNA movement migrated across the country.  Today, there are more than 500 Visiting Nurse Associations, employing more than 90,000 Clinicians who provide health care to more than four million people each year.

The CWA-represented VNAs provide a critical safety net in communities, enabling their patients to continue to live independently at home, according to information posted on the company’s web site.  The VNA of Western New York has evolved to be one of the largest VNAs in the country and plays an integral part of the health care landscape of our communities.

The VNA of Western New York serves more than 25,000 patients each year, with more than 500,000 home visits across the region, so says information posted on the VNA web site. 

VNA’s Caregivers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week and 365 days per year, providing the following services: Adult Day Services; Rehabilitation Services - VNA Home Care; Skilled Nursing Services in the Home; Infusion Pharmacy/IV Therapy Nursing; Telehealth Home Monitoring; Lifeline Personal Response System; Pediatric & Maternal Specialty Services; Personal Care Services; VNA Diabetes Program; VNA Immunization Program; and Wound Care (Home Care).

“The VNA Professional and Clerical Workers are ‘high-quality individuals who possess a high level of expertise to provide the kind of care and services that they do to their patients.’  ‘Nobody does it better,’” Wagner told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.