A tentative agreement was reached on Friday between 1199/SEIU and the League of Voluntary Hospitals of New York, one year before the expiration of the old contract. In light of soaring health care costs, union leaders agreed to reopen the contract and suggested that members give back one percentage point of their increase for this year in order to maintain a sound health benefit fund for its members. The agreement covers 66,000 workers, includes strong job security language and 12% raises over the
four year life of the contract. To achieve pension savings, the union also agreed to let the health care institutions base their pension contributions on a different formula.
See "Health Union to Give Up Part of Raise", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, May 9, 2004