New York City Health Union, Hospital Association Extend Contract in Wake of Attacks

New York City's "largest union of health care workers" and an association of 67 hospitals and nursing homes have agreed to extend their contract for five months after it expires on Oct. 31, the New York Times reports. Dennis Rivera, president of 1199/SEIU -- New York's Health and Human Services Union -- said that it would be "inappropriate" for the 50,000 union members covered by the contract to undertake a strike while the city is still immediately recovering from the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. "We thought the last thing New York City needs right now is for us not to focus on the health care needs of the city," Rivera said. Bruce McIver, president of the hospital association, the League of Voluntary Hospitals, said that both organizations were expecting an "extremely tough negotiating round," with the union seeking a 24% raise over the next three years and hospitals saying that they face a "budget crisis." McIver said he thought negotiations would begin "in earnest" in February, as the contract extension will last through March 31 (Greenhouse, New York Times, 10/9).