(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Nursing Home Workers represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East at Safire Care of Northtowns and Williamsville Suburban Care Center have reached three-year tentative contract agreements with their employer, Union Officials announced Friday (May 16th).

The two new deals came as Union Workers at Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace in Lewiston/Niagara County overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new three-year labor deal.

“We just negotiated our contract and it’s an excellent contract. It was a good, strong committee and we did it! I’m proud of the contract,” said Yedda Burton, a Certified Nurse Assistant and Union Delegate employed at Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace. 

“We have a new contract and it’s well deserved! It took a long fight, but we got it done,” said Jason Howard, a Cook employed at Ascension Living Our Lady Peace. 

The new three-year deal at Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace met Workers’ demands after more than a year without a contract.  

The new deal includes improvements to wage scales - that result in increases averaging 22% in the first year and 5% increases for all Employees in years two and three of the contract.  

In addition, Workers won increased shift differentials and preceptor pay, and increases to employer provided benefits - including pension, dental and optical.

The new agreement expires on April 30th, 2028. 

As three more facilities wrap up contract talks late last week, 1199 SEIU requested a Mediator from the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to join contract talks with the McGuire Group in advance of the Strikes that are set to begin at Absolut Care of Gasport, North Gate and Garden Gate.

The McGuire Group agreed to the request - and provided the Mediator is available, was expected to join bargaining over this weekend with the Union and Absolut Care of Gasport, and then with the four other McGuire facilities on Monday (May 19th), just one day before the called Strikes are set to begin. 

Workers employed at 11 facilities will begin their Strikes starting Tuesday, May 20th, at 6 a.m.

1199 SEIU had issued 10-day notices on behalf of Workers employed at a total of 15 Long-Term Care Facilities in Western New York to hold a week-long Strike.  

However, new three-year contracts have been ratified at Schoellkopf Health Center and Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace.

Ratification votes will be held for Safire of the Northtowns and Williamsville Suburban in the coming days. 

On another front, contract negotiations with Gowanda Rehabilitation and Nursing Home have resulted in a postponement of the Strike as both parties made significant progress, 1199 SEIU Officials said.

Caregivers have been bargaining since late February in an effort to reach agreements at 27 homes in total - now 24.

Those 1199 SEIU-represented Nursing Home Workers at 11 facilities in Upstate Western New York who will participate in the seven-day Strikes are fighting for better staffing levels, quality/affordable health insurance benefits, fair and living wages and pension improvements.

Workers believe a comprehensive benefits package, including training and education, and a childcare fund will boost staffing levels at the Upstate Care Facilities. 

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: 1199SEIU Members at Two More Nursing Homes Settle 3-Year Tentative Agreements As Union Requests Mediator Join Talks With McGuire Group