(ROCHESTER, NEW YORK) – University of Rochester’s Medicine Home Care Team is continuing to stall during negotiations with its Professional and Clinical Workers over their first Union contract, the Union representing those Workers charge. 

The University of Rochester and 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East have 16 outstanding economic issues still on the table, including patient caseloads and affordable health insurance for Home Care Workers following eight months of talks.

University of Rochester’s inexperienced management team is unwilling to provide reasonable patient caseloads for Workers after lengthy sub-committee meetings on productivity levels set up by a Federal Mediator, Union Officials said.

Both sides return to negotiations this week with several sessions scheduled, including a full-day session on Saturday. 

1199 SEIU Representatives say the University of Rochester’s delay tactics on reasonable caseloads is increasing burnout of Caregivers and is creating an exit door for beleaguered providers. 

On another front, the Union says several University of Rochester representatives who are at the negotiating table appear to lack any health care experience or background, including one who previously worked for a food distributor.

About 110 Unionized Professional and Clinical Home Care Workers employed at University of Rochester Medicine Home Care (URMHC) have been negotiating their first labor contract with the largest private sector employer in Upstate New York since May 2024.

URMHC Workers provide professional home care services for patients who reside in Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates Counties.

Professional Home Care Workers are employed as Registered Nurses, Child Life Specialists, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, Dietitians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Medical Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Pediatric Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants and Speech Language Pathologists.

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Professional & Clinical Home Care Workers Over 7 Counties in Upstate New York At Odds With University of Rochester Over Reasonable Case Loads As Management Stalls At Bargaining Table