TALKS STALL AT UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND STRONG HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES MAY PICKET NEXT WEEK

(Rochester)--Contract talks involving over twelve hundred University of Rochester employees broke off earlier this week with no agreement in sight. Negotiations between two organized groups and the University began in September. Contracts covering one thousand employees of Strong Memorial Hospital and another two hundred employees of the University of Rochester's non-medical divisions expired on October 2. The contracts were extended through October 30 with the hope that new agreements could be reached by that time. <!--break--> "We thought we were headed for agreement over the weekend." said Bruce Popper, chief negotiator for both groups. "But the University pulled back from its offer." As a result, employees notified University and Hospital officials that they intend to picket on Thursday, November 11, if no settlement is reached by then. No talks are currently scheduled. The principal sticking points are wages and health insurance. Union members are seeking a wage increase and health care contribution rate sufficient to continue current benefits. Employees of Strong Memorial Hospital are members of SEIU Local 1199. They work as patient care technicians, patient unit secretaries, surgical support assistants, materials management, dietary, housekeeping, and in other service related jobs. Employees in the University's non-medical divisions are members of SEIU Local 200United. They work in facilities, food service, and other service related departments.

<p>(Rochester)--Contract talks involving over twelve hundred<br /> University of Rochester employees broke off earlier this week with no<br /> agreement in sight. Negotiations between two organized groups and the<br /> University began in September. Contracts covering one thousand employees<br /> of Strong Memorial Hospital and another two hundred employees of the<br /> University of Rochester's non-medical divisions expired on October 2. The<br /> contracts were extended through October 30 with the hope that new<br /> agreements could be reached by that time.</p> <!--break--><p> "We thought we were headed for agreement over the weekend." said<br /> Bruce Popper, chief negotiator for both groups. "But the University pulled<br /> back from its offer."</p> <p> As a result, employees notified University and Hospital officials<br /> that they intend to picket on Thursday, November 11, if no settlement is<br /> reached by then. No talks are currently scheduled.</p> <p> The principal sticking points are wages and health insurance.<br /> Union members are seeking a wage increase and health care contribution rate<br /> sufficient to continue current benefits.</p> <p> Employees of Strong Memorial Hospital are members of SEIU Local<br /> 1199. They work as patient care technicians, patient unit secretaries,<br /> surgical support assistants, materials management, dietary, housekeeping,<br /> and in other service related jobs. Employees in the University's<br /> non-medical divisions are members of SEIU Local 200United. They work in<br /> facilities, food service, and other service related departments.</p>