Healthcare workers employed by Optum are pressing for a fair contract, taking their fight public across the Hudson Valley, News 12 reported. They say the stakes go beyond pay, touching on whether patients can be cared for safely.
The push played out in several communities at once. Union members and healthcare workers gathered in six places across the Hudson Valley on Monday to make their demands heard.
Their list of priorities is centered on day-to-day working conditions. The workers say they want fair wages, affordable health insurance and more staffing to keep both patients and employees safe.
Staffing is a recurring theme in their complaints. Some workers say that ongoing staffing shortages are leading to burnout and high turnover, leaving teams stretched thin.
One worker tied the contract fight directly to patient care. Every day without a contract, the worker said, is a day patients do not get safe care, describing an operation that is understaffed across providers, nurses, medical assistants and front-desk staff.
The dispute has roots in a corporate takeover. According to the report, the tensions follow Optum's takeover of CareMount Medical and Crystal Run Healthcare three years ago, a shift that reshaped care in the region.
For its part, the company says it remains at the table. An Optum spokesperson said it will continue to bargain in good faith and comply with labor laws as the negotiations go on.