On August 25, Service and Maintenance Division workers at the Faxton – St. Luke’s Health Care Medical Center in Utica, N.Y., joined UFCW Local One for a better life. The Faxton – St. Luke’s Health Care Medical Center is affiliated with the Mohawk Valley Health System and the 290 new members of UFCW Local One are employed as maintenance workers, dietary aides, care attendants, secretaries, and as laundry and environmental services workers.
“I am very proud of our Organizing Department for being able to sign up a majority of the workers in the service and maintenance unit at Faxton – St. Luke’s Health Care Medical Center, while at the same time that the local was conducting negotiations with the Mohawk Valley Health System,” said UFCW Local One President Frank DeRiso. “I would like to give special appreciation to the entire Bargaining Committee, as well as Recorder and Executive Assistant Robert Ciancaglini; Union Representative Tony DeRiso; and Local One’s Attorney Robert Smith for securing a card check neutrality agreement with this employer during negotiations.”
“It’s very important to have a contract, not just for monetary reasons, but also safety wise,” said Mike McKinney, who works in the Service and Maintenance Division and is training to be a steward for the unit. “Having a contract builds comradery amongst the workers. Having a union contract is good for all.”