ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Workers at Jordan Health Center began a planned three day strike Tuesday morning, but Jordan's CEO says the center is ready to still handle patients.

Workers threatened the three-day strike after management says it offered a 7 percent raise over three and half years. 

 

The health center rejected a federal mediator's proposal, which the union says would provide moderate pay increases and maintain benefits.

Jordan Health CEO Janice Harbin says that proposal was not feasible for Jordan. Now more than 60 workers are walking out.

Harbin says it will be business as usual despite the strike.

"We do not have the luxury to play this game of 'win,'" Harbin said. "There's no winner in this. We will be open. We will continue to serve with high quality and the highest quality, serve all of our patients and serve this community."

Management and the union have been working on a contract since November.  

Jordan Health officials released a statement regarding the strike and negotiations:

"The proposal received by Jordan Health would require Jordan Health, a not-for-profit federally qualified health center, to provide union employees with a total of 7% in wage increases during the same period of time that the union agreed to a total of 6% in wage increases from the large hospital system in the area.  Jordan Health does not have nearly the same resources as that other employer and we believe that it is overreaching for the union to seek more from Jordan Health, with its limited operating budget, than from those a much larger employer who have many more resources, including significant endowment funds.

Nonetheless, and in spite of the financial uncertainty and fiscal constraints that Jordan Health faces, the Jordan Health negotiating team has communicated a proposal to the union and the federal mediator which addresses its most recent wage demand for an additional 1% increase and also provides Jordan Health with cost certainty through June 30, 2021. 

We are hopeful that the union will recognize the extraordinary lengths that Jordan Health has gone to in order to attempt to reach a fair contract and that the union will agree to this proposal.   Regardless, our doors will remain open next week, with uninterrupted service to our patients."