CORNING HOSPITAL WORKERS APPROVE NEW CONTRACT

NURSES, OTHER EMPLOYEES END 3 WEEK STRIKE

CORNING HOSPITAL WORKERS APPROVE NEW CONTRACT

NURSES, OTHER EMPLOYEES END 3 WEEK STRIKE

(Corning)--Nurses, medical technicians, clerical, service and maintenance employees of Corning Hospital ended their three week walkout today by approving a new collective bargaining agreement.

"We reached a compromise on key issues." said Judy Berto, a billing clerk with 33 years of service at Corning Hospital. "I am pleased and proud of how our members stuck together. This contract is a lot better than the hospital's last offer. It proves the power of commitment."

The new contract goes into effect immediately and extends until April 30, 2007. It provides for a total of seven percent (+7%) in pay increases and a $500 cash bonus for full-time employees over the next two and one-half years. Negotiations will reopen on wages in April, 2006.

Employee and hospital negotiators reached a middle ground on health insurance and overtime issues. For example, changes in prescription drugs will be phased in but a $7.50 copayment for generic drugs, the most common prescribed, will remain unchanged for the entire contract. Choice of health care providers is preserved with lower costs for out-of-network services than originally sought by the hospital.

On overtime, registered nurses will receive extra compensation in exchange for new overtime rules, and other current employees will be exempted from the changes unless they change work hours.

"On behalf of our employee committee, I really want to thank the community, other union members, local businesses, and the many individuals who supported us during the strike." said Peggy Clarkson, an emergency room registration clerk at the hospital for the past 31 years. "The donations and show of solidarity were so gratifying. It shows that this community backs its local health care workers."

Over 300 Corning Hospital workers walked off the job on September 29. They are members of 1199 SEIU New York's Health Care and Human Service Union. The workers picketed the hospital complex daily and rallied in both Corning, NY and Sayre, PA where the Guthrie Health System is headquartered. Corning Hospital is a subsidiary of the Guthrie System.

Employee and management committees reached a tentative agreement on settlement terms yesterday. That agreement was made official by today's vote.

Union officials expect all strikers to be back at work no later Monday, October 27.

"We look forward to putting the strike behind us and getting back to the business of keeping quality health care services in Corning." said Renee Leonard, a registered nurse in the hospital's intensive care unit for 9 years.. "It may take some time, but I think that both union and management leadership inside the hospital learned a valuable lesson: to respect each other."