Negotiations resumed Wednesday between Kaleida Health and 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East - with participation by a federal mediator.

Talks broke down in early summer between the two groups, with differences centering on pension and retirement benefits.

The union represents over 3,000 workers in 12 different groups working throughout the Kaleida system, including hospitals, outpatient facilities and nurses' offices in Buffalo schools.

The federal mediator joined the talks in late October after the union set a Nov. 19 deadline for a membership vote on the most recent offer by Kaleida.

Negotiations opened on March 3, in anticipation of the expiration May 31 of contracts covering all 12 bargaining units. Union members picketed Kaleida's finance and human resources offices last month, protesting the lack of progress. There have been no formal negotiations since, although the parties have met to resolve differences over the cost of pension proposals.

Union members want to normalize disparities for members covered by four different retirement plans. Kaleida's last offer, worth more than $30 million, was rejected by the union. Kaleida has said in previous statements the union's proposals are simply unaffordable and could bankrupt the organization.