POUGHKEEPSIE – More than 1,500 members of 1199SEIU healthcare union have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a contract with Nuvance Health that the union says will improve the lives of the workers, their families and patients, and will also help to recruit and retain staff.
The three-day ratification vote, which took place on April 19, 20, and 21, was the culmination of more than a year of negotiations.
The bargaining units and their contracts are:
First union contract:
Technical Workers at Northern Dutchess
BioMed Engineers at Vassar/Putnam
Radiation Therapists at Vassar/Putnam
Extending Contract:
Vassar Brothers Medical Center
Putnam Hospital
Contract Highlights:
- Annual raises of 3.5 percent in 2023, 2024, 2025
- Increases minimum rates up to 10 percent
- Juneteenth as an additional premium holiday
- Long-time members continue their no-cost, comprehensive health benefits through the 1199 National Benefit Fund
- New members to be covered by the 1199 National Benefit Fund effective 12/1/24
Michael Dick, a biomedical engineer at Vassar, said, “As a lifetime member of this community, this is much more significant than a win for the people who work here. This is a victory for the entire community. This organization is meant to serve all of us. With the support of 1199 and the entirety of its membership, we look forward to bringing back the Vassar we know.”
Daniel Duffy, a radiation therapist at Putnam:
“After three years of being persistent and at the same time being patient we have our contract. I think, I hope, Nuvance may now see us as a valuable asset to their organization.”
