Workers at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester’s River Campus have voted to ratify a new three-year labor contract, successfully averting a potential strike.
This development, announced by the 1199SEIU union, concludes four months of intensive negotiations between the union workers and hospital management. The negotiations focused on demands for higher wages and improved benefits, critical factors believed to enhance staff retention and recruitment efforts at both hospitals.
The newly ratified contract, effective through September 5, 2026, promises significant benefits for the workers. According to 1199SEIU, the agreement includes a general wage increase exceeding 18%, retroactive pay dating back to September 23, 2023, and an increase in the starting rate for new hires to $17 per hour starting December 31.
Additional benefits include increased training pay, enhanced adult education hours, a rise in uniform allowances, and a potential increase in shift differential across URMC.
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