Howard Brown Health has reached a tentative agreement with its union, after a year and a half of negotiations that included two workers strikes.
The Illinois Nurses Association, which represents about 360 employees at Howard Brown Health, announced the tentative agreement April 17. Members vote April 29 whether to ratify the contract, which would be the first since workers unionized in 2022.
The tentative agreement, which was reached the evening of April 17, offers a formal payscale to create wage transparency, an average of 7% raises and a new minimum wage of $19.23 across the organization, according to a press release from the union.
The agreement also offers paid leave for gender-affirming care and extends bereavement-leave benefits for chosen family, according to the union. Other highlights include protections against layoffs, a union-rights clause aimed at protecting members from major unilateral changes and differentials for floating-schedule, weekend and evening work.
"Every worker will be eligible for health insurance, and we persevered on raising the floor for our lowest paid members," bargaining committee member Josseline Almengor said in a statement. "I am beyond proud and humble to be part of this unit."
Bargaining between the union and Howard Brown leaders began in November 2022 and has often been contentious, with workers going on strike twice in 2023 to fight the layoffs of about 60 employees, unilateral workplace changes and alleged bad-faith bargaining.
Howard Brown leaders have said the organization is working to close a $12 million revenue shortfall created by recent losses in federal funding.
Former CEO David Ernesto Munar, who stepped down from his role Feb. 29, told Block Club Chicago last year the revenue shortfall stems from COVID funding running dry, as well as changes in the pharmaceutical industry that allow companies to keep a greater share of federally negotiated savings.
Robin Gay, who was appointed interim president and CEO, said in a statement she was "thrilled" at the progress made with the union.
"I am excited for our union partners to bring this to a vote as we continue to provide high-quality, affirming care to our patients and community members across Chicago," Gay said.
The voting period ends May 1, according to the union.
Since negotiations began, the union has filed numerous unfair labor practice complaints against Howard Brown with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which found merit or partial merit to multiple charges in 2023.
Separate from the union's contract negotiations, the NLRB has been seeking a settlement between the union and Howard Brown over the unfair labor practice charges that could include reinstatement, back pay and payment of consequential damages to those laid-off workers.
The laid-off employees were offered reinstatement in August, and discussions about the settlement and proposed backpay continue, Wren O'Kelley, associate director of communications and marketing at Howard Brown, previously told Windy City Times.
"In these discussions, we are working towards reaching a mutually agreeable settlement, while also ensuring that we can continue to provide critical care to our patients," O'Kelley said.
But negotiations on the settlement have stalled, workers said. Chicago's regional director of the NLRB filed a complaint in March accusing Howard Brown of violating the National Labor Relations Act when it laid off the 61 employees without negotiating with the union first.
If a settlement isn't reached, the issue will go before a judge Oct. 21.
