The votes have been cast and counted and after months of difficult and stalled negotiations, the 1199SEIU healthcare workers at Brooks Memorial Hospital voted by a 4 to 1 margin to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the hospital. The agreement will maintain quality care and good jobs for the Dunkirk community. Throughout negotiations, the largest union of healthcare workers in the state said healthcare jobs are the largest growing sector of the economy and that good, stable union jobs are critical for local economies to thrive.

“I was very happy to see so many people come out to vote today,” said Ashley Raymond, a Personal Care Aide and a member of the Bargaining Committee.

“After all this time and everything we have been through we are still united and with this contract we can concentrate on providing quality care. That’s what we do.”

The long-awaited agreement maintains many of the quality standards that workers at the hospital rely on, including maintaining the same or comparable health insurance benefits for the life of the 3-year agreement, and vacation accrual for current employees. The 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund continues to be available at no cost to 1199 members, providing important educational opportunities when the industry is in flux and healthcare delivery is changing quickly.

The new contract also includes much needed improvements to pension contribution rates, a 1 percent wage increase starting in May 1, 2015 (with maintenance of step progression in 2014 and 2015) and job security language.

“To me it is a relief to have bargaining over and our new contract in place,” said Angel Correa, a Dietary Aide at the hospital, “Now we can get back to what we truly love to do; caring for our patients and making them smile.”

Brooks Memorial Hospital is a 65-bed acute care, voluntary, non-profit hospital, including an emergency department, serving the community of Dunkirk and surrounding areas with 170 members of 1199SEIU workers.