(WESTERN NEW YORK) – Hundreds of 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)-represented Nursing Home Workers employed at four more area Nursing Homes have ratified three-year contracts over the last week.

Workers at the Schofield Residence, Safire Rehabilitations of Northtowns, Williamsville Suburban Care Center and at the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Williamsville all voted to ratify new agreements with their employers.

The 1199 SEIU Caregivers at Schofield Residence in Tonawanda overwhelmingly voted to ratify their contract in a near unanimous vote last week. Both Union Members and management came to a tentative agreement just hours before Workers planned to Strike for one-week last month. 

“We are grateful we could settle before we had to Strike. We are glad they were willing to have an open conversation in order to come to an agreement that both sides were happy with,” said Catherine Wills, a Physical Therapy Assistant employed at the Schofield Residence.

The Schofield Residence met the area wage standard set by other 1199 SEIU-represented Nursing Homes this year, with Caregivers winning wage increases of 12%-to-20% throughout the agreement. The newly revised 10-step wage scale provides wage increases based on years of service, with additional raises for Employees with more than 10 years of service to Schofield.

Newly hired employees will be assigned to appropriate wage steps based on their years of experience, Union Officials said. This approach enables Schofield to effectively compete in recruiting and retaining experienced Workers to provide care for residents, they added.

The new agreement offers increased shift differentials and weekend differentials, plus preceptor pay for training new Employees.

Caregivers also won improvements to employer provided pension contributions and health insurance premiums, even for part-time Workers.  

In the third year of the contract, Workers will also receive 1199 SEIU Childcare Fund benefits. 

Caregivers employed at Williamsville Suburban Care Center and Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns voted to ratify their deal late last week.

The three-year agreement similarly includes wage increases of 14 to 24%, evening and weekend shift differentials, preceptor pay to train newly hired Employees, experienced based pay, step increases and newly added 1199SEIU Childcare Fund benefits.

The Service Workers also won significant increases in starting rates to help recruit and retain more Workers. 

“It’s been a long time coming. I’m glad that we were able to get a fair contract without going on Strike.  We were able to secure good wages and benefits for the next three years,” said Iris Purks, a Unit Clerk employed at Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns.

Nursing Home Workers at Comprehensive at Williamsville also finished voting on their agreement and overwhelming voted to ratify their three-year deal - which includes: Increases to shift differential; Newly added weekend differential; Preceptor pay to train newly hired Employees; Newly added wage scales which puts workers in a higher pay rate according to years of service; and employer provided increases to dental and optical benefits. 

Each of the four contracts will run through April 30th, 2028.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Nursing Home Workers at 4 More Long-Term Care Facilities Ratify 3-Year Contracts Winning Significant Wage Increases and Childcare Benefits