You might want to wash your hands after holding your reusable bag -- because it could be covered in fecal bacteria.
Last week, 1199SEIU issued a 10-day notice for an unfair labor practice strike on behalf of University of Rochester Medicine Home Care workers. A one-day strike is now planned.
Since May 2024, professional and clinical home care workers have been negotiating their first union contract.
The major outstanding economic issues include affordable health insurance coverage, reasonable patient caseloads, and wages.
"It is clear, based on their [URMHC leaders'] actions, that it's about billable hours and just delay, delay, delay in hopes that this will go away," said Tracey Harrison, area vice president of 1199SEIU and chief negotiator.
The one-day strike will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in front of the URMHC office in Webster.
With 79% of home care workers voting in favor of unionization and the strike, 111 workers will participate.
"We don't want to strike. That's the last thing we want to do," said Dave Simon, a physical therapist for URMHC. "We decided to limit our strike to a single day over concerns for patient care, in hopes that the agency would take this process more seriously moving forward and prevent any further need for escalation."
URMHC workers provide services for patients in Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties. They assist patients transitioning from hospital to home, providing nursing care, therapy (physical, occupational, speech), and medical and social work services.
Feb. 18 marks the 44th bargaining session.
In January, 1199SEIU filed an unfair labor practice complaint against URMHC, alleging it bargained in bad faith by delaying a counterproposal on outstanding economic issues. A federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was present at the talks.
"The great thing is that this bargaining unit is courageous, strong and determined that they're going to get the best contract they deserve," Harrison said. "Ultimately, if they get what they need, they can provide the highest level of care."