(THE SOUTHERN TIER OF WESTERN NEW YORK) - More than 200 Union-represented Nursing Home Workers employed at four rural facilities in the Southern Tier of Western New York have avoided a week-long Strike after reaching a new contract agreement, 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East announced.

In a near unanimous vote, the Caregivers who work at the rural nursing homes: Salamanca Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; the Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; the Eden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center; and the Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center - ratified their new two-year contract with Personal Healthcare.  The four homes have been managed by one for-profit company, Personal Healthcare Management, LLC since 2018. 

The Employees work as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Rehab Aides, Unit Helpers, Housekeeping Aides, Laundry Aides, Dietary Cooks, Dietary Aides, Dietary Assistants and Certified Nurse Assistants in Training.

The new agreement runs through April 30th, 2025.

In February, Caregivers held an informational picket to draw attention to short staffing, lack of fair wages and poor health insurance coverage. 

In March, 97% voted in favor of a week-long Strike after months of negotiations. 

The new contract could bring much needed relief to those beleaguered Caregivers who work in the four rural townships. 

Cheryl Lariviere, a Housekeeping and Laundry Worker employed at the Houghton Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, said: “It means that they are actually starting to recognize Service Workers for what they do.  Now we have a wage scale for a number of years worked.  We are finally being recognized and that really means something.” 

Highlights of the new contract include increased wages based on years of experience and longevity pay to retain long-time Caregivers with more than 10 years of service. 

Caregivers also won competitive start rates and wage scales with experience, resulting in historic wage increases for Workers, as well as quality pension increases, pick up bonuses to fill shifts, shift differential and mentor pay.

The Union Health Care Workers will also receive Juneteenth as a paid holiday.

Health insurance problems were also a key sticking point during contract negotiations, 1199 SEIU Representatives said, but in the end - they add, the employer agreed to pay more towards health insurance benefits for its Employees. 

It was also announced that the Union and the nursing homes employer will work together to expand the network of providers who accept the insurance to avoid exorbitant out of pocket costs to Workers.

In addition, the Health Care Workers will now have access to dental and optical benefits - which will be partially covered by the employer.

On another front, 1199 SEIU and the employer also agreed to expand bereavement leave to include domestic partner, step-parent or step-child.

1199 SEIU - whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, is the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in America, representing more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers across the states of New York, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and in Washington, D.C.