New Contract Ends N.Y. BlueCross BlueShield Lockout
The nearly 400 members of Office and Professional Employees ( OPEIU ) Local 212 in Buffalo, N.Y., who were locked out by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York since April 26, will be going back to work after ratifying a new contract today.
The new contact, reached Friday, includes wage increases over its three-year life and a lump sum payment. It also maintains job security protection provisions the company had originally sought to eliminate. Local union officials said it also retains the employees’ current benefits package and working conditions.
OPEIU President Michael Goodwin says:
We are very pleased that the parties were able to reach an agreement through the process of collective bargaining, demonstrating that mutual agreement trumps unilateral action.
