Erie County Passes Safe Staffing Resolution

The Erie County Leg just passed a resolution to support #safestaffing! Congrats to CWAers who worked hard on this! pic.twitter.com/jxRHaRocYP

— CWA District 1 (@CWADistrict1) December 18, 2015

In another win for safe staffing in upstate New York, the Erie County Legislature has passed a resolution to support the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act which would help ensure hospitals and nursing homes in New York State are properly staffed. When nurses care for two to three times the patients they can safely manage, the research shows the chances of preventable death, hospital acquired infections, and adverse outcomes increase.

CWA Locals 1168 and 1133 and the New York State Nurses Association have been working hard to lobby for the legislation to ensure patients receive the quality care they deserve. CWA members worked hard to win the support of Erie County Legislators and mobilize community members to take action. 

"[The legislation] would result in fewer injuries to our nursing staff, less lost time, down time, fewer comp, fewer disability claims, I think, overall, and the most important thing, better patient care," said Terri Legierski, political legislative director with CWA Local 1133.

The Erie County Legislature joins Buffalo, Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Hamburg, North Collins, and Amherst in supporting the bill. CWA and NYSNA will continue to fight for action at the state level.