Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 12, 2004, Friday

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

November 12, 2004 Friday Region Edition

SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. 12D

HEADLINE: Workers fight for health care, pay

BYLINE: Joy Davia, Staff, JDAVIA@DemocratandChronicle.com

BODY:
About 400 UR, Strong union employees picket
Joy Davia
Staff writer
Larry Miller stepped closer to the curb, adjusting the "Health Care For All" sign hanging around his neck, as picketers nearby chanted, "Two percent won't pay the rent."
"A 2 percent raise won't pay my rent," said Miller, 43, a unionized building service worker at Strong Memorial Hospital. "Especially since the cost of living in general is going up - not just the rent."
About 400 University of Rochester and Strong union workers and supporters picketed Thursday in front of the Elmwood Avenue hospital, urging their employer to adopt wage increases and health care contributions proposed by two area unions - Service Employees International Union Local 1199 Upstate and SEIU Local 200 United.
Talks stalled last week over a contract that expired Oct. 30.
The unions rejected UR and Strong's proposal of a 2 percent annual wage increase and contributions to a health benefits fund that would not have allowed workers to keep their current health care benefits, said Bruce Popper, vice president of Local 1199 SEIU.
The approximately 1,200 union workers currently don't pay insurance premiums, but pay co-payments for services, such as $10 for specialists and $5 for primary care doctor visits.
UR and Strong, however, said they offered wage increases and medical insurance contributions similar to what they give their nonunion workers, said Teri D'Agostino, Strong spokeswoman.
"The theme for us is consistency and parity," she said. UR is the area's second-largest employer.
A federal mediator will meet with both sides on Tuesday, she added, which in the past has helped resolve their disputes.
Health care has become the major problem at bargaining tables across the country, said Lance Compa, who teaches labor law at Cornell University.
"Generally they've been resolved by a compromise," he said. "You can't say that one part wins or the other loses.
"They get through the turmoil of a strike and spend the next two or three years muddling through. And than maybe they'll face the same problem again.
"It gets down to costs: Who's going to bear the burden of the costs and how costs are shifted. The employer naturally wants employees to handle more of the costs and employees naturally resist that to a certain point."
The unions represent workers who hold jobs ranging from housekeepers to nursing assistants.
"We understand the economy is bad," said Wayne Montgomery, 42, a UR maintenance worker. "But they're spending billions on research and spending money to expand.
"All we want is just a little bit of that to trickle down to the people who make this place go."