(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Workers employed at Comprehensive Rehabilitation & Nursing Center at Williamsville in Suburban Buffalo have ratified a new multi-year agreement with their employer after months of negotiations and several job actions, including a one-day Strike.

The 34 Workers, who are represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East, are employed as Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Housekeeping Aides, Laundry Aides, Dietary Cooks and Dietary Aides.

Caregivers employed at the 142-bed facility had been working without a contract since December 31st, 2022 when their three-year contract expired.  The new agreement is effective through April 30th, 2025, regardless of who owns the center in the future, Union Officials said.

According to the Federal Government, the facility ranks “much below average” for its staffing levels, with Workers citing low pay and high turnover as issues needing urgent attention. 

Nursing Home Workers participated in multiple job actions including a one-day Strike and circulated a community petition to call for increased staffing levels, improved jobs and safer working conditions to protect quality care for residents.

In advance of their one-day Strike in May, 1199 SEIU requested a Federal Mediator to join talks to avoid a long-term and indefinite Strike, which Union Members authorized. 

Both the Union and the employer were able to reach a settlement late last week, which then progressed to a vote of the entire Membership.

Union Members at the aging facility in Williamsville overwhelmingly voted to approve the new multi-year contract late Friday (June 7th).

"I'm pretty excited,” said Eric Ray, a Cook at the facility. “This is a long time coming.  We work hard for these residents.  It's about time management recognized that and compensates us fairly for it.”

Workers had expressed concerns about their future if the facility should change ownership. 

Now, the Union Nursing Home Workers have won the right to keep their Successorship Clause, maintaining their hard-earned wages and benefits should the facility change ownership in the future, 1199 SEIU Officials said.

A Successorship Clause is common language in labor contracts and it protects Workers’ wages and benefits from being weakened or eliminated should a facility change ownership.

The Union Nursing Home Workers also fought back against concessionary proposals made by the for-profit ownership group - and won. 

Wage rates for Caregivers now fall in line with the area standard, bringing those Workers well above the area minimum wage, Union Officials said.

To recruit and retain workers, there will no longer be tiers between employees hired before and after 2015 when the current owners purchased the facility, they added. 

In addition, Caregivers who provide training to new hires will get preceptor pay.

Caregivers also won guaranteed time for ongoing education. 

All Union Workers will get retroactive pay back to January 1st, in addition to a general wage increase of at least 13% in the first year, with as much as up to 30% for long time dedicated Caregivers, 1199 SEIU Officials said. 

In year two of the contract, Workers will get a general wage increase of 4.25%.

The Union-represented Nursing Home Workers will also get a 10-step wage scale for all job titles based on years of service, and longevity increases for years of dedicated service - as well as an annual bonus in lieu of pension increases. 

The yearly bonuses will be in effect until such time as the employer agrees to implement a pension plan, 1199 SEIU said. 

The Nursing Home Workers will also see an increase to shift differential, improvements to employer-provided family health insurance and an added and paid Juneteenth holiday. 

The new multi-year contract also includes health and safety language to address and improve working conditions at the facility. 

On another front, the employer must now negotiate any changes to job descriptions and management must tell Workers they have a right to a Union Representative if being disciplined. 

Workers also won expansion of their bereavement pay, making it easier to utilize. 

In addition, the employer must provide consistent schedules for Workers to follow and will now pay Workers on a weekly basis.

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 the United States and represents more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers throughout the States of New York, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and in Washington, D.C.