By Emilia Teasdale
Capital Region Independent Media
HUDSON – Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) announced it has reached an agreement with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East on a new four-year contract.
Columbia Memorial Health serves Greene and Columbia counties.
A statement from CMH said hospital leaders invited 1199SEIU to the table in January 2024 “to begin bargaining in good faith for a new contract for its professional and service and technical employees.” The unit represents approximately 750 of the hospital’s 1,300 employees.
In a Jan. 30 release from 1199SEIU, the union reported that members settled on a tentative agreement on Jan. 28 with CMH “after a year of contentious bargaining and mobilizing community and elected leaders.” Union members voted to approve the contract Feb. 4.
“For more than a year, CMH has been advocating to advance a contract that respects our team’s expertise and our mission to the people we serve,” said Dorothy Urschel, DNP, president and CEO of CMH, in the statement from the hospital. “We are thrilled to reach an agreement that provides our employees the wages and benefits they have earned and deserve. The robust enhancements we put on the table will also allow us to advance our continuing commitment to grow our workforce and our mission. It is time for us to move forward together.”
The highlights of the new agreement include: a 22.5% wage increase that is phased over each contract year (7% retroactive to 2024, 5% for 2025, a 5.25% for 2026 and 5% for 2027); minimum starting hourly wage increase to $18; reductions in contributions to health insurance; elimination of co-pays for CMH services; increased preceptor and orientation pay; and increased vacation time.
“1199SEIU members came together for huge demonstrations, vigils, town halls and rallies in Hudson – and, finally, CMH workers will have more money in their pockets with historic wage increases,” Greg Speller, executive vice president for the Hudson Valley and Capital Region of 1199SEIU, said in a statement. “At the same time, we have very serious concerns about how far CMH remains behind their competitors in terms of wages and benefits. Lagging behind doesn’t just affect our members and their families, but the quality of care available to the community.”
Last August, Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson moderated a public hearing with CMH staff members about the issues the staff had with the hospital, including asking for higher wages and affordable health insurance. Staff members also told the crowd at the meeting that people were leaving for more remunerative jobs and temporary contractors were replacing permanent employees.
According to the union, along with wage increases, CMH has agreed to pay a greater percent of union members’ health insurance premiums, as well as to continue pension contributions unchanged. The hospital also says the four-year deal allows CMH to advance additional recruitment efforts.
“I was proud to stand with the members of 1199SEIU as they fought for historic wage increases. This agreement represents a significant victory for workers, but the fight for wage parity and essential investments at CMH continues,” U.S. Rep. Josh Riley, D-19, said in the union’s release.
A statement from state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-41, on Feb. 5 said, “Congratulations to 1199SEIU members at Hudson’s Columbia Memorial Hospital on securing a hard-fought contract victory, and thank you to CMH for coming to the table. I was proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 1199SEIU members on the picket line in their fight for a better contract, and I’m thrilled by their success. Keeping quality care local includes making sure our health care workforce can afford to live in the communities they serve.”
As for local CMH employees, both Robin Johnson, an operating room RN with 35 years at the hospital, and Brianna O’Leary, a CT imaging technologist, were quoted in the union’s release. Both employees also spoke at the public hearing in August.
“Despite any disappointment with CMH’s lack of appreciation for our hard work and sacrifice over the years, 1199SEIU members will continue to provide the best possible care to our patients,” Johnson said. “We have something to build on – but we have a long way to go.”
“We’re settling now, but we are fully aware that this is a fight that will go on – and we’ll continue it for our families and our patients,” O’Leary said.
