(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - After months of negotiations and more than 50 individual bargaining sessions with Kaleida Health System Management, three Unions representing a combined 7,200 Kaleida Workers who are employed across the Buffalo area announced late Tuesday (July 9th) that they had reached a new three-year tentative contract.

The Workers are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168 - whose Union Local represents the largest number of Kaleida Workers at 4,300, 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East and International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17.

As a result, an informational picket that was scheduled to take place today (Wednesday, July 10th) was canceled.  The picket was to be held to protest the lack of an agreement between the two sides, allowing Members from each of the three Unions to inform the community about in-hospital conditions while working without a contract, Union Officials said.

The prior contract expired in May following one extension when no agreement was reached between the two groups.

1199 SEIU Vice President Jim Scordato and CWA Local 1168 President Cori Gambini said they believe the new deal provides for improved staffing levels, better wages, and gives Union-represented Kaleida Workers “the opportunity to continue providing top notch quality care throughout the Kaleida Health System.”

“We are happy with the agreement,” said Scordato, adding the Union Bargaining Committee “fully supports” Member ratification of the tentative agreement.

“The Bargaining Committee fought long and hard to reach a good agreement with the support of an energized workforce,” Gambini said. 

“This contract will give us the ability to continue providing safe and quality care through strong staffing language, excellent wages and benefits which include health care coverage.  As a dedicated health care workforce, we always remember that the patient is our purpose and the Union is our voice.  We are Union Strong,” Scordato and Gambini also said in a distributed press release.

No specific details of the agreement were being made public until all Union Members review the tentative deal and cast their vote, Union Officials said. 

However, in their distributed press release, Kaleida Health said the tentative agreement included: All Employees benefitting financially; Kaleida Health making additional Staffing commitments; Incentivizing Employees to utilize the Kaleida Health when it comes to their health care needs; Works within Kaleida Health’s economic framework; and Positions the organization to continue to deliver the highest quality of care for our community well into the future.

“Everything that we discussed during negotiations is directly tied to our mission, vision and values, is designed to improve the quality of care that we provide to our community, and helps ensure the viability of Kaleida Health.  Just as important, the new agreement invests in our workforce in a number of areas,” Kaleida Health System President and CEO Jody Lomeo said.

Meanwhile, the Unions’ Bargaining Committee is currently working to secure a date, time and location for Union Membership to vote on the tentative pact.

The agreement will be final when it is approved by Union Membership and ratified, they said.

Membership meetings will be scheduled in the next few weeks to inform and educate Union Members of changes that took place in this new Labor Agreement, Union Officials said. 

All Union Members are being notified of the meeting by mail, e-mail and/or text message. 

The agreement covers Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Techs, Professionals, Service Workers and Engineers working at Kaleida Health’s Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, at DeGraff Memorial Hospital, at Millard Fillmore Suburban, at the Buffalo General Medical Center, at HighPointe on Michigan, and at Kaleida’s Business Office.

For More On This Labor News Story, Read WNYLaborToday.com’s June 30th Labor News Report, Headlined: With An Informational Picket Now Scheduled By Three Unions That Represent 7,200 Workers Across Buffalo’s Kaleida Health System, Negotiations On A New Deal Resume Monday After A Short Break That Followed More Than 50 Bargaining Sessions