Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In a contract negotiation that, at times, appeared contentious and had indications of leading to a walkout, Kaleida Health has announced a tentative deal has been reach with union leadership.
The tentative deal with the Communications Workers of America/AFL-CIO (CWA1168) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East on a new three-year contract, would impact 6,300 unionized employees.
In a release sent early Monday morning, Don Boyd, President and CEO of Kaleida Health said, "Despite how challenging it was and the length that it took, this process was all about achieving a fair contract that rewards our current employees, helps attract new staff and puts the organization in a strong position going forward."
Both began bargaining in early March and over the course of six months, reached tentative agreement on over 160 articles, MOUs, and letters including all economic and non-economic issues in the contract.
Boyd added, "We are proud that we fulfilled our commitment of our three stated objectives as part of this contract: no concessionary bargaining, addressing staffing needs across Kaleida Health plus investing in our workforce with wage increases and more. Our workforce has been stretched to the max these past two and half years; and that they continue to step up to help us address the challenges we face. So it is vitally important that we continue to support and invest in them."
Because the agreement must be ratified by the union membership in the coming weeks, full details of the contract will be released in the coming days.
Ratification voting by union members is expected to occur in the next few weeks.
During the negotiations, union workers staged noisy pickets outside Kaleida hospitals and had authorized union leadership to strike, if necessary.
