Technical and service workers reach contract agreement with Westchester Medical Center/Warwick campus

Members of 1199SEIU, the nation’s largest healthcare union, have voted to ratify a contract that union leaders said will improve the lives of the workers, their families and patients and will also help to recruit and retain staff at WMC/Warwick campus of St. Anthony Community Hospital, Schervier Pavilion and Mount Alverno Center.

The ratification vote on Friday, April 14. Negotiations began in September 2022.

Technical workers at St. Anthony Community Hospital voted to become 1199SEIU members in September 2021.

The following July, the service workers at St. Anthony, Schervier Pavilion and Mount Alverno Assisted Living Center joined.

Negotiations were held together, resulting in one contract for all 240 healthcare workers.

“We are incredibly proud of what we secured in our first-ever contract as 1199 members,” said Amanda Wells, an ER Tech and member of the 1199 negotiating committee. “Short-staffing in health care is a national problem, but with below market wages, it has just not been possible to retain and recruit.

“This contract provides competitive wages to attract new staff,” Wells added. “To maintain staff there are longevity increases for service employees and experience steps for technical employees; these contract provisions reward staff for their continued dedication. Add to that 1199’s affordable and comprehensive National Health Benefit Fund (NBF) and we have a solid foundation that we will continue to build on in the years to come.”

Assemblyman Karl Brabenec congratulated the workers. “These hardworking and caring individuals provide critical services to the entire community and they are finally getting the fair treatment and pay that they deserve.”

State Sen. James Skoufis also added his congratulations. “I want to congratulate 1199SEIU and its members for reaching this historic first contract with Westchester Medical Center at the Warwick campus. Warwick and surrounding communities rely on these hardworking men and women every day. They deserve fair pay, strong benefits, and the kinds of labor protections that will allow them to continue serving; this contract does just that.”

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America, representing more than 450,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland Washington, D.C. and Florida.