Union President Set to Join Kaleida Picket

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Upstate New York Division                              
Service Employees International Union
974 Kenmore Avenue                     
Buffalo, New York  14216
Telephone:      (716)-982-0540
Fax:            (716)-876-0930
Website:        www.1199seiu.org

MEDIA RELEASE           SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

UNION PRESIDENT SET TO JOIN KALEIDA PICKET

LEADER OF OVER A QUARTER MILLION HEALTH CARE WORKERS COMING TO BUFFALO

        (Buffalo) - George Gresham, leader of one of the largest
organizations of health care workers in the world, is coming to Buffalo to
support workers in the Kaleida Health System.   The employees intend to
picket Kaleida on Tuesday, September 30.  Gresham is expected to address a
rally on the picket line in the late afternoon.

        Three thousand Kaleida employees are members of 1199 SEIU United
Health Care Workers East, of which Gresham is president.  They have been
attempting to negotiate a new labor contract since March.  Talks are
stalled over the issue of retirement benefits.

        "I and all my executive officers will be in Buffalo next week to
show our solidarity with our hard working caregivers in the Kaleida
network." said Gresham.  " We are informing these members and Kaleida
management that our entire union  - all 300,000 members - are solidly
behind the Kaleida workers in their quest for a decent pension and a good
contract."

        Gresham is familiar with Kaleida Health, having played a role with
his predecessor, Dennis Rivera, in saving Children's Hospital of Buffalo
from closure five years ago.   

        Union officials notified Kaleida last week that employees will
picket Kaleida's offices at the Larkin Building, 726 Exchange Street, the
site of its human resources and finance departments.

        1199 SEIU members in Kaleida work at Women and Children's Hospital,
Buffalo General, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle and Suburban Hospitals, and
in many outpatient facilities and offices located throughout Erie County.
They also provide health service public schools in Buffalo.  They are
registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, medical
technologists and technicians, pharmacists, administrative, business office
clerical, service, and maintenance employees.

        1199 SEIU is made up of approximately 300,000 health care workers
from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, and the District of
Columbia.  For biographical information about President Gresham, please go
to:         www.1199seiu.org/about/president.cfm

        Contact:  Franchelle Hart at (716) 289-1280, or Bruce Popper at
(585) 746-0478.