After nearly two years of good-faith negotiations, we are pleased to report that Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) have reached a tentative agreement on a collective bargaining agreement.

1199’s PA membership must vote to ratify the contract for it to take effect. The union will schedule a ratification vote for next week. SIUH management is unable to disclose the details until the 1199 PA membership ratifies the agreement.

We believe the proposed collective bargaining agreement is fair for our PAs and will ensure the shared continued commitment to providing our patients and the community safe, quality health care. We also believe that it recognizes the unique professional role that PAs play in delivering patient care.

Thank you for your patience and support throughout the negotiation process. Your service and dedication are greatly appreciated.

Yesterday Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) met virtually with SEIU1199 United Healthcare Workers East (1199) for our 22nd negotiation session.

It was another milestone session as the hospital presented a comprehensive economic proposal, including details on wages and benefits. The initial economic proposal we presented yesterday represents the beginning of what will surely become an in-depth discussion over our next few negotiation sessions, as SIUH and 1199 work to negotiate a fair and fiscally-responsible economic package that balances all our interests. We look forward to continuing the conversation at our next session.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for text message updates from SIUH by texting SIUHPA to 77295. You can also visit this website for SIUH PAs for the latest updates. 

Yesterday we had our 20th negotiation session with SEIU1199 United Healthcare Workers East union as we work toward establishing a new collective bargaining agreement for you – our physician assistants (PAs).

The parties engaged in a constructive dialogue that enabled us to reach common ground on the important issue of continuing medical education (CME). In particular, we agreed upon procedures that permit PAs to pursue CME courses and professional development opportunities both within and outside of their clinical specialty.

This is a great example of both sides recognizing your advanced professional role and invaluable contributions to delivering the highest quality patient care. We hope to accelerate the momentum we gained yesterday at our next negotiation session.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for text message updates from SIUH by texting SIUHPA to 77295. You can also visit this website for SIUH PAs for the latest updates.

As you may already be informed, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union (1199) mutually agreed to postpone today’s negotiation session due to SIUH’s priority focus on managing a COVID-19 resurgence.

In this regard, we look forward to continuing our work with 1199 as we mutually share interests in ensuring a safe work environment for all SIUH team members, while also delivering the highest quality of care our patients and service to our community at large. Our next session is scheduled for January 6, and we will keep you updated on its status. Thank you for continuing to provide world-class care to our patients, especially in these challenging times.

Yesterday we had our 19th negotiation session with 1199 as we work toward establishing a new collective bargaining agreement for our physician assistants (PAs).

It was a milestone session as we made our first segue into discussions about economic topics. As has been our approach throughout these negotiations, we began by seeking common ground on the smaller issues – which are theoretically easier to resolve – before opening up the conversation to bigger topics, such as salary and benefits. Still, this shift to the economic phase of the negotiations represents the unwavering hard work and collaboration of both parties.

In light of the challenging economic circumstances confronting the healthcare industry, and the corresponding budgetary impact on Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), we want to be upfront in stating that many of the union’s costly economic proposals are simply unrealistic. As we stated at the onset of negotiations, we are fully committed to negotiating in good faith toward a contract that balances the needs of both parties while reflecting the unique professional status of our PAs. We look forward to continuing the economic discussion at our next session on Dec. 11, and will keep you updated.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for text message updates from SIUH by texting SIUHPA to 77295.

Thank you for your continued interest in the negotiations.