Rallying for a fair contract

Posted 12/31/69

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — On Thursday, October 3, the 1199SEIU union of healthcare workers of Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills (Garnet/Catskills) gathered to rally after several months of …

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Rallying for a fair contract

Posted

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — On Thursday, October 3, the 1199SEIU union of healthcare workers of Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills (Garnet/Catskills) gathered to rally after several months of contract negotiations and numerous discussions with management. Worker Natasha Smalls, radiology coordinator, said, said, “Management still doesn’t understand how important it is to agree to competitive wages. Without decent wages, we can’t make ends meet at home and will not be able to stay at the jobs we love. Patients and our entire community that depends on Garnet Health - Catskills is affected when the hospital cannot keep and recruit staff.”

Staff said Garnet/Catskills leadership continues to ignore a reasonable solution to a serious staffing crisis. Members of 1199SEIU say the workers have been trying to negotiate a new contract with Garnet/Catskills and claim that in the last few years, employers have had difficulty recruiting and retaining staff throughout the healthcare industry. They say the the problem at Garnet/Catskills is not solely a regional labor shortage; many qualified caregivers are willing to work, but wages are low and the cost of living is always rising; workers find it difficult to pay the bills at home; and many workers have two jobs just to get by. 

There are 235 service and technical health care workers in the bargaining unit. Their contract expired in April 2024.

1199SEIU, Garnet Health Catskills, Natasha Smalls, Rally, Healthcare, jobs.

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