Workers at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester's River Campus voted Wednesday to ratify a new three-year labor contract and avoid a strike, the 1199SEIU union announced.

The vote brings four months of intense contract negotiations to an end. 

1199SEIU union workers and employees represented by SEIU Local 200 at both hospitals had been at the bargaining table with union leaders asking for more money and better benefits, two things they believe would help retain staff and assist in recruitment efforts. 

“The improvements we won for workers in this contract will improve the lives our union members and their families,” said Robin White, patient care technician at URMC’s Strong Memorial Hospital and 1199SEIU delegate. “It will also attract more workers to fill vacancies reducing our heavy workload.  With our new contract language in place, we will be able to work more as a team with hospital leaders."

“Workers at URMC were able to stand up and demand dignity and respect by negotiating their own contract and that gives them a real voice on the job,” 1199SEIU Vice President Tracey Harrison said. “We hope to see more workers at URMC doing the same as Rochester becomes much more of a union town."

According to the 1199SEIU, the new labor deal includes general wage increases of more than 18%, including retro pay back to Sept. 23, 2023 and increases the new hire starting rate to $17 per hour on Dec. 31. The union says workers will also see an increase in training pay to $1.75 per hour, an increase in adult education hours and uniform allowance, and an increase to shift differential if implemented across URMC.

The agreement runs through Sept. 5, 2026.