Salary increases, additional sick days, and improved health insurance benefits were highlights of the contract that UFCW Local One negotiated with Adirondack Medical Center (AMC) on behalf of its members. Negotiations between UFCW Local One and the Saranac Lake, N.Y.-based employer began in May, with five in-person sessions held over the following four months. The two sides reached a final agreement in October.
The agreement also transitions the union’s approximately 360 members at AMC to the UFCW Local One Health Care Fund, which will provide and administer their health insurance benefits for the contract’s three-year term.
Members hold essential positions at the facility, working as nurses, patient care technicians, billing representatives, sleep lab staff, maintenance workers, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, and more.
“I’m pleased that we were able to come to an agreement that is favorable to all,” said Brenda Wood, cardiology tech coordinator at Adirondack Health, UFCW Local One steward, and member of the bargaining committee. “We were able to work with our employer to secure things on which we could all agree. The employees work hard every day to keep AMC going, and I think this contract reflects that.”
UFCW Local One Director of Servicing Joe LaPaglia added, “Reaching this agreement took a lot of work from both sides, and I want to recognize our members for standing together throughout the process. We also appreciate AMC’s willingness to work with us at the bargaining table to reach an agreement that allows us to move forward together.”