BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — 1199SEIU and CWA, the unions representing nearly 8,000 healthcare workers across Western New York, reached a tentative agreement with Kaleida Health, marking a significant win for health care professionals in our community.
The three-year contract, which still requires approval from union members, includes wage increases, improved staffing ratios and measures to help attract and retain new staff.
WATCH: 1199SEIU and CWA reach 3-year tentative agreement with Kaleida Health
The agreement covers thousands of health care workers at Buffalo General Medical Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, HighPointe on Michigan, DeGraff Medical Park, and various community-based clinics across Western New York.
Union representatives said they are confident the agreement addresses key concerns that matter to healthcare workers and the patients they serve throughout our region.
"Our service members are now in a competitive wage scale...Kaleida moved them up into a competitive wage scale," said Charles Williams, a Patient Care Assistant at Buffalo General Medical Center.
The bargaining committee, consisting of 32 members representing various healthcare roles, unanimously recommended the agreement for ratification.
"We were excited about the agreement that we reached," said Cori Gambini, CWA Local 1168 President and Kaleida Health Registered Nurse. "Our bargaining committee unanimously voted to recommend this tentative agreement to our members to ratify, and I think everybody was very proud walking out of here early this morning, proud of the agreement that we reached."
A key component of the agreement addresses staffing ratios, which union representatives said have been a critical issue.
"We are having trouble taking a lot of time with the state to get Kaleida to enforce those ratios, so we're excited that we ended up getting enforcement language in this contract," Gambini said. "We're going to work with Kaleida over the next year to get that set up. I think that's really made a huge difference in this contract."
The bargaining committee sought several key provisions in the tentative agreement, including adequate staffing ratios, improved pension benefits, competitive wages for recruitment and retention and no concessions.
"Worked very hard," said Cheryl Marino, 1199 SEIU United Workers East Administrative Organizer. "There were bargaining committee members from all job titles that we represent from EVS, dietary, respiratory, RNs, technical groups and professionals."
Union representatives expressed confidence that members will approve the agreement.
"The bargaining committee, as part of the process, has to recommend the ratification of this contract," Marino said. "Unanimously, the bargaining committee is saying that the members should indeed ratify."
A vote is scheduled for next week to ratify the contract for union members.
“Our workforce is our number one asset. Kaleida Health committed to a new contract that recognizes our workforce’s contributions, allows operational excellence, and promotes a culture of dignity and respect. The contract rewards our current employees, increases wages, improves staffing, and helps attract and retain new staff.”
