(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - On July 2nd, Workers employed at two Western New York Nursing Homes reached a tentative one-year contract agreement with their employer, but less than one week later the for-profit, out-of-town Nursing Home failed to sign the deal that including increased wages to recruit experienced Caregivers. 

As a result, the Nursing Home Workers - who are represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the largest Health Care Workers Union in the United States, have voted in favor of holding a one-day Strike.

More than 100 Workers at Williamsville Suburban Care Center are employed as Activities Aides, Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Physical Therapy Aides, Unit Secretaries and Maintenance Assistants.  Meanwhile, another 70 are employed at Safire Rehabilitations of Northtowns in Tonawanda as Certified Nurse Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses and Unit Clerks. 

“The owners agreed to our proposal after many weeks of negotiations and then when it came to signing it - they refused to pay agreed upon experience pay,” said Penny Burdick, an Activities Aide at Williamsville Suburban Care Center.  “We need to keep and recruit experienced Staff and will Strike over this.”

The contract covering the 170 workers at the facilities in Tonawanda and Amherst expired on April 30th (2024).

Caregivers have been in negotiations for the past several months in an attempt to reach a one-year deal on a new agreement. 

1199 SEIU filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on July 8th alleging the for-profit employer was bargaining in bad faith when they failed to sign off on the deal they agreed to during contract talks. 

Workers then held a Strike Authorization Vote at the two Suburban Nursing Homes, with Workers ultimately voting in favor of holding a one-day Strike.

1199 SEIU sent a 10-day notice to the employer last week notifying them of the 24-hour ULP Strike that is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 28th (2024).

1199 SEIU Organizer and Lead Negotiator Emmanuel White said: “The employer agreed to the entire proposed package during negotiations on July second and now has failed to sign the agreement due to experience based pay.  We want to make sure that both facilities can recruit and retain experienced Workers to care for residents - and to do so they must offer competitive wages based on experience.  The employer reached out to have a conversation on Monday, (August 26th), so we remain hopeful that we can settle this dispute.”

According to the New York State Department of Health, Safire Care of Northtowns and Williamsville Suburban have common owners, which is often the case when owners participate in related party transactions.  More than 72% of for-profit nursing homes in New York State participate in related party transactions.

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 country, representing more than 450,000 members throughout the States of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida, and Washington, D.C.