(ROCHETER, NEW YORK) – Union-represented Workers at Rochester’s Anthony L. Jordan Health Center are publicly voicing their thanks for what they describe “abundant support” from patients, community, and elected officials during a recent three-day work stoppage.

Sixty-five workers at the facility were back on the job delivering patient care and services after holding a three-day job action. The Workers, all Members of 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East, have been trying to settle a contract that improves wages and maintains current benefits for seven months, to no avail. On June 5th, the Workers walked off the job to protest the refusal of Jordan’s Board of Directors to accept a Federal Mediator’s settlement proposal.

“We are disappointed that the Jordan Board is refusing to compromise with us on an agreement that is fair to both sides,” said the Members of the 1199 SEIU Employee Committee. “It’s unfair for them to refuse to give us the wage increases we need to keep our health insurance funded while we are here willing to accept a wage freeze to help stabilize the center."

The Federal Mediator’s proposal, which was unanimously accepted by the Workers, affords the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center financial relief by freezing wages in 2018, while providing modest wage improvements in 2019 and 2020, Union Officials said.  It also includes an extra 1% increase in 2020 to ensure the Workers’ Health Insurance Plan is fully funded and secure.

The peaceful three-day action generated abundant Labor and community support with more than a dozen Anthony L. Jordan Health Center patients joining Workers on the picket line.

The three-day work stoppage (Pictured Below/Rochester City Newspaper Photo) also drew the attention of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, New York State Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle, Assembly Member Harry Bronson, City Council President Loretta Scott, City Council Vice President Adam McFadden, City Council Member Michael Patterson and Father Laurence Tracy, who all came together to draft a letter to the Anthony L. Jordan Board of Directors - encouraging them to accept the Federal Mediator’s proposal and “get back to your work of providing health care to your patients.”

“We appreciate all the support we have gotten so far.  There is no way we are going to stop standing up for our patients and our families.  That’s not who we are, not what we do,” the 1199 SEIU Employee Committee said. “Our fight is not over, now we will go back to the negotiating table to do whatever it takes to get a fair agreement that gives us the respect and justice we deserve.”

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East represents more than 200,000 Hospital, Nursing Home and Homecare Workers in New York State.

Locally, the Union also represents Workers employed at the University of Rochester Medical Center and six area nursing homes.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: www.1199seiu.org/media-center/1199seiu-healthcare-workers-return-their-jobs-anthony-l-jordan-health-center