(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – About 40 Workers employed at Evergreen Health in Downtown Buffalo have filed to Unionize with the Rochester Regional Joint Board of Workers United.

The Union filing follows Workers at the Pride Center, an affiliate of Evergreen, who voted unanimously to join Workers United earlier this month.

Evergreen Health is a non-profit with locations across Western New York, offering LGBTQ+ inclusive care to underserved communities.

Workers organizing at the Center for Supportive Services (CSS) provide a wide variety of services, including case management, housing placement and retention, health education - as well as programming for patients who need assistance with managing chronic health conditions.

Lee Ables, a Housing Resource Specialist, said: “Being a Housing Worker who believes in our mission and providing our community access to human basic rights, that is so fundamental, like all the work we do here in CSS.  Workers’ rights are in tandem with these beliefs.  We the Workers of Evergreen Health are passionate about what we can accomplish for our community even more so with a Union contract.”

Alex Chesley, a Housing Retention Counselor, said: “As Social Workers, we are on the front lines every day working with the community to provide unconditional care.  We often help patients who have been through unimaginable trauma and that is something that comes home with us whether we like it or not.  Unfortunately, these are things that can be overlooked regarding the Workers here.  We get told that we do good work and help people, but it's time we are shown this through action.”

In a letter addressed to Evergreen Health CEO Ray Ganoe, the Workers said: “The quality and continuity of patient care is important to us.  We believe a Union is necessary to make Evergreen a more sustainable organization for patients and Workers alike.”

Going forward, the workers are hopeful Evergreen will recognize their decision to organize and respect their Employees’ rights.