Healthcare Workers Strike at Rockland Pulmonary

Healthcare workers and management are left needing a deep breath after months of tense negotiations – is it possible for them to get a-lung?

Over 50 frontline care providers and support staff at Rockland Pulmonary went on strike the day of August 12, the 24 hour strike calling for fair pay, better benefits, and an end to alleged worker intimidation. Negotiations are now underway with the healthcare union, United Healthcare Workers East 1199SEIU, who claim that management violated federal labor law in prior negotiations.

Rockland Pulmonary is within the WMCHealth network, a nonprofit system based in Valhalla, NY, with 12,000 workers across nine hospitals and dozens of specialty practices, including nursing, home care and mental health operations. The strike consisted of respiratory therapists, medical secretaries, clerks, assistants, patient service representatives, and coordinators.

Workers at Rockland Pulmonary spent eight months at the bargaining table with WMCHealth management prior to the strike, fighting for what they consider to be a “fair first contract”. According to the Rockland Pulmonary employees, they were faced with intimidation and delay tactics from WMCHealth management. 

Diana McLean, a nine-year Rockland Pulmonary respiratory therapist, expressed frustration with her working conditions, stating,“We’re scheduled back-to-back with barely enough time to give our patients what they need — let alone take a break during an eight-hour shift. We’re constantly asked to do more with less. We came together to join 1199 to fight for decent working conditions, fair raises, better health insurance, and a pension.”

Anna Oman, Senior Communications Coordinator for Union 119SEIU spoke on behalf of strikers. She said, “Rockland Pulmonary workers are asking for the same benefits that other 1199SEIU members already have at other WMCHealth facilities: health insurance through the 1199SEIU National Benefit Fund, and the union’s pension fund. Healthcare workers should be able to afford their own health care and retirement.”

According to Oman, the negotiations are held in the hopes of bridging the gap between union and nonunion workers, stating, “Rockland Pulmonary workers are asking for across-the-board raises that begin to bring workers up to market rates and make up for the lost ground from inflation in the area. Currently, WMC management is offering Rockland Pulmonary workers less at the table than they gave nonunion workers in December 2024. WMC gave workers at their other clinics a raise of 3% and withheld it from Rockland Pulmonary workers – a common union-busting tactic.”

Mounting frustration surrounding these alleged tactics is what ultimately led employees to walk out. Workers demanded an end to what they called unlawful tactics, including WMCHealth management threatening to close their offices, refusing to bargain in good faith, and, according to information shared with the RCT, telling workers to “quit if they don’t like it.”

Lynn Nichols, Director of Marketing and Communications at WMCHealth, denies the illegal negotiation strategies. “WMCHealth has bargained in good faith with 1199SEIU – offering a new contract that would increase salaries, preserve and expand benefits for our frontline caregivers who are part of our incredible teams that provide patients at Rockland Pulmonary & Medical Associates the very best medical care. We have contingency plans in place to ensure this one-day strike will not interrupt or interfere with our doctors, nurses, and other care team providers delivering the highest standard of care, and we hope the Union leadership will meet with us to reach a fair, sustainable agreement.”

Several elected community members joined the picket line. John Sullivan, a candidate for Congress, said “I’m the son of two proud union members, who when I was growing up were part of the same kinds of efforts that Rockland Pulmonary workers are engaged in right now, to secure fair wages, benefits, working conditions and a fair bargain with employers. I came out last week to stand in solidarity with those healthcare workers who deserve a fair deal for the critical work they do for patients and for everyone in our community.”

Sullivan also spoke on how upcoming national legislation could soon be affecting Rockland. “Everyone in Rockland County benefits when health care workers are able to focus every day on helping patients. There are far too many ongoing threats to the health care system, including the forthcoming Medicaid cuts and policy changes that Mike Lawler voted for in the Big Ugly Bill, that will degrade care and harm our caregivers and patients across the board. People in Rockland County are responding by uniting around our health care workers to demand better, and that includes fair pay and benefits for the irreplaceable work they do.”

Assemblyman Patrick Carroll of District 98 stood with workers during the strike, stating “I’ve proudly stood in solidarity with 1199SEIU and Rockland Pulmonary workers as they demand a new contract with fair wages, good benefits and retirement security. Negotiations have dragged on for over eight months with management refusing to budge. Our healthcare workers take care of our community, they serve our community, they ARE our community. Everyone should be able to earn a wage that allows them to live in the community in which they work. I have one message for Rockland Pulmonary: Come back to the table, negotiate in good faith, and agree to a contract that gives these workers the wages, benefits, and security they deserve.”