Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace and its employees announced they reached a new three-year contract this past week, averting a planned strike.
The more than 100 nursing home workers, represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, had been working without a contract since December 2023. It was one of 22 facilities where workers picketed last month during the negotiation process.
“We have a new contract and it’s well deserved!” said Jason Howard, a cook at Our Lady of Peace. “It took a long fight, but we got it done.”
“We are pleased Our Lady of Peace associates have ratified their new contract,” said Ascension Living spokesperson Molly Gaus. “We look forward to continuing to work together to provide safe, compassionate care to our residents and community.”
Under the new contract, lasting through April 30, 2028, improved wage scales would result in increases averaging 22% in its first year and by 5% in years two and three of the contract. Workers will also get increased shift differentials, preceptor pay, and increased benefits like pension, dental, and optical coverage.
This is the second Niagara County nursing home 1199SEIU has announced a new three-year agreement with during this negotiating process, the first being Schoellkopf Health Center in Niagara Falls. Williamsville Suburban Care Center and Safire Rehabilitation at Northtowns in Buffalo also reached tentative three-year agreements with employees last week.
As of Monday morning, workers at 11 WNY nursing homes still plan to go on a week-long strike starting 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The four facilities located in Niagara County include:
• Absolut Care of Gasport
• Elderwood at Lockport
• Newfane Rehabilitation & Health Center
• North Gate Manor in North Tonawanda
Of those, the 1199SEIU had filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Absolut Care of Gasport and Elderwood at Lockport.
The union had also requested a mediator from the Public Employees Relations Board to join contract talks with the McGuire Group, owners of North Gate and Garden Gate in Cheektowaga and sharing an ownership group with Absolut Care of Gasport. The McGuire Group agreed to the request, starting bargaining with Absolut Care last Friday and the other facilities on Monday.
The 1199SEIU represents more than 4,000 workers at 27 nursing homes in Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties that have been in the middle of contract negotiations since February. The majority of their labor contracts expired this past April 30.