1199SEIU and the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes of New York have reached a tentative three-year labor agreement covering 86,000 healthcare workers across downstate New York.
The three-year agreement covers certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, registered nurses, housekeepers, social workers, clerical staff, dietary workers, physician assistants, technicians, lab workers and maintenance staff, according to a June 30 joint news release.
The workers are employed at 90 hospitals and nursing homes, including facilities operated by Montefiore, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, NewYork-Presbyterian and NYU Langone Health.
The parties said the agreement includes 4% annual wage increases, continued employer-sponsored health insurance with no premiums, deductibles or copays, protection of workers’ pension benefits, increased funding for childcare benefits, registered nurse longevity pay increases, layoff protections for employees with at least 10 years of service, and the creation of a labor-management fund to provide legal support for immigrant healthcare workers facing work status challenges. The deal also establishes a committee to review AI’s impact on healthcare workplaces.
“At a time when Washington, D.C., is making unprecedented cuts to healthcare funding, this contract is a huge win for caregivers who are the bedrock of our healthcare system and essential to maintaining standards for high-quality patient care,” 1199SEIU President Yvonne Armstrong said in the release. “We fully protected our health benefits, defended our strong pension and raised wages.”
“Healthcare providers are facing unprecedented economic challenges, but this agreement shows what can be achieved when both parties listen to each other and prioritize finding common ground and common cause over conflict and division,” League President Marc Kramer said in the release. “We are especially proud to create a new fund for this contract that will provide immigrant workers with financial support to manage legal challenges to immigration status.”
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