LABOR: Union workers reach tentative pact with Eastern Niagara Hospital-Newfane

Staff Reports
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

NEWFANE July 04, 2009 02:22 am

— Eastern Niagara Hospital-Newfane’s union workers have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with management, the employees union announced Friday.
The breakthrough came after eight hours of negotiation Thursday, according to Local 1199 of Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers East.
The new labor agreement will cover 110 SEIU workers, including licensed practical nurses, nurse attendants, environmental and service workers, maintenance and clerical staff, according to the union.
Union Communications Coordinator Franchelle Hart characterized the agreement as “fair” and said negotiators were very pleased with it.
“It had unanimous support from our member negotiation team,” she said. “Everyone agreed that this was the best settlement we could come up with.”
Hart said the pact is subject to approval by the union workers in a vote Thursday. Details of the new agreement will be released after the balloting concludes, she said.
Employees have been working without a contract for the past month, while talks have continued. Negotiations began in February, and a federal mediator joined the talks in May. Contract talks broke off June 24 over issues of wage equity and retirement security, the union said.
Workers had voted earlier this week to picket the hospital if a tentative pact had not been reached Thursday. “There was definitely some urgency to come to an agreement,” Hart said.
In April, the Newfane site, formerly known as Inter-Community Memorial Hospital, merged with Lockport Memorial Hospital, now Eastern Niagara Hospital-Lockport.