ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Since November, employees at the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center have been fighting for a new contract. On Thursday the union accepted a resolution presented by the federal negotiator handling the dispute.

"It's a contract where both sides didn't get everything they wanted, but we think it's fair, the federal negotiator thinks it was fair," said Christopher Roe, a Jordan Health Center Employee.

"The contract is something that is required for our health insurance to flow the way it is," said Beverly Colon who is also employed at the Center.

On top of maintaining benefits, the union is requesting a total of 7% wage increases by 2020, but Jordan Health will only agree to a 6% increase.

The union says that the extra 1% would only cost $16,000 including employer taxes and that it is in fact necessary to balance the wage freeze that they agreed to for this fiscal year.

Jordan members are covered by the Rochester section of the 1199 SEIU National Benefit Fund. The only other local employer that participates in the NBF is the University of Rochester. 

The Jordan Center argues that it is a much smaller employer and does not receive significant endowment funds granted to UR medicine.

Jordan Health released the following statement Thursday:

"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."

A union advocate says that they are disappointed in the employer's rejection of the proposed contract.

"We want this to be finalized, we want the stress to be off the workers so we can get back to work and provide the best health care for our patients," said Roe.

Workers are threatening a three day strike starting on June 5th if the employer does not agree to the proposal.